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!rf*M>ii, 


>\.       V-Wi-fc      M  \     . 


■ft*-  ^  .!« 


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^,^.: 


POPULAR   NOVELS 

BY  MAY  AGNES  >LEMING. 


t 


./ 


I.-GUY  EARLSCOURT'S  WIFE. 

•.-A  Wonderful  woman. 

3.— A  TERRIBLE  SECRET.  ^ 

4.— NORINE'S  REVENGE. 

5.— A  MAD  MARRIAGE. 

6.T-ONE  NIGHT'S  MYSTERY. 

7.-KATE  DANTON. 

8.— SILENT  AND  TRUE. 

9.— HEIR  OF  CHARLTON. 
^      10.— CARRIED  BY  STORM. 
,/       II.— LOST  FOR  A  WOMAN. 
«.— A  WIFE'S  TRAGEDY. 
13— A  CHANGED  HEART. 
14.-PRIDE  AND  PASSION. 
IS.-SHARING  HER  CRIME. 
i«.-A  WRONGED  WIFE. 
17.— MAUDE  PERCY'S  SECRET, 
18.-THE  ACTRESS'  DAUGHTER. 
19.— THE  QUEEN  OF  THE  ISLE, 
so.— THE  MIDNIGHT  QUEEN. 
»i.— EDITH  PERCIVAL. 
ai— WEDDED  FOR  PIQUE. 
a3,— A  FATEFUL  ABDUCTION. 
24.— THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.    (New). 

"  Mn.  Flemins's  itoriet  are  growing  more  and  more  popular 

erery  day.    Their  delineations  of  character,  life-like  con- 

▼enationf,  flashes  of  wit,  constantly  varying  scenes, 

and  deeply   interesting  plots,  combine  to  place 

their  author  in  the  very  firnt  rank  of  Modem 

Noveluts." 

Elegantly  bound  in  cloth.  Price  $1.50  each,  and  sent 
PRiB  by  mail  on  receipt  of  price,  by 

a.  W.  Dillinghain  Co.,  Publishers, 

NEW  YORK. 


AUl 


l'<yi6H* 


THE 


SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD 


<5. 


A   NOVEL 


By  May  Agnes  Fleming  '' 

AUTHOR  OF  "  GUY  EARLSCOURT'S  WIFE,"  "  A  WONDERFUlWoMAN," 
-        "A  FATEFUL  ABDUCTION,"  "  WEDDED  FOR  PIQUE,"  "  ONE 
night's  MYSTElRY,"  "KAT?  DANION,"  "SILENT 
AND  TRUE,"  ETC.,  ETC. 


V^ 


M^ 


NEW   YpRK. 

G,  W,  Dillingham  Co.,  Publishers 

"^=^      wpcccxcvni        ^      ^   ^  .^^ 


iS^^    iiu  ^\^  »'  1.*^ 


r 


Copyright,  i8qo,  Bv 
STREET  AND  SMITH 


Copyright,  i8<)8,   Ry 
G.  W.  DILLINGHAM  CO. 


■^ 


CONTENTS. 


^ 


/ 


CHAP.  ' 

I.  The  Mistress  of  Tor  wood                           "  ''^''" 

^       II.  Lucy • 5 

III.  Madgem....,...:....\[\[\l ••••■•.....     15 

IV.  Coming  Events,  etc. . .  " ' '- \^ 

V.  Edith ■■■■; •••  ^ 

VI.  At  the  Gate....     ' f 

VII.  Florence. ['[   ' '   ' ' " ' '^^ 

IX.  The  Hut  in  the  Woods .  J"^ 

X.  Strictly  Confidential....:.....^  ;;.;;; Jj* 

XI.  Thp  Minister's  three  Reasons.   1 i^, 

XII.  Mystery '••••   ^^^ 

XIII.  On^of  Edith's  Anacls'  "  '  ^- *!JJ 

XIV.  What  thet-Moon  Saw . . .     -     ""J '%■-•'■  j^5 

XV.  Respectfuljy,  Declined .  * " '  i ~n 

XVI.  The  Shadow  of  What  was  to  Come.' ifto 

XVII.  W^iat  Came. .  .  " ^^^ 

XVIII.  The  Invalid ' If 

XIX.  As  the  Shadows  Fell . '' S 

XX.  In  the  Hospital tZ 

XXI.  OntheTrack ". •  rf 

XXII.  Hunted  Down....  • •  zl 

XXIII.  Unmasked ^fj    ' 

XXIV.  AConfe.ssion -,    '" .•  IZ 

\    XXV..  Sister  Marie........       "  ' "  »  i„ 

X^VL  Resurgam!; ; ^il 

.  XXVn.  -Possibilities  . . .  <^ :f  - 

JXVIH.  A  New  Friend.... -:■..■  .7.  .■.■;;;;; ••  |g 

j  XXTX.  Florence  and  her  Husband  ."""^^^""""*"  wo 

«^  XXX.  The  Wedding ^Vf 

old 

.....       ,'      .  / 


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THE  SM'EBS  01'  TOKWOOft 


CHAPTER  I.- 


> 

THE   MISTRESS   OP   TORWOOD 

A  Loi^Ei^Y  Old  house,  standing  by  itself  in  a  green 
hpllm^^,  shut  y^^  on  tlie  three  sides  by  the  sloping  hills   • 
of  Maryland,  and  on  the  front  a  winding  pathTlead- 
mg  down  through  a  long  avenue  of  pines  to  tbe 
ceaseless  sea.     A  dingy  old  house,  built  of  red  brick 
whose  reclhess  had  long  ago  departed,  leaving  'it"   " 
black  and,hsnial  to  look  at-an  old  place,  indeed,     " 
looking  as   old  as  the  hills  themselves   almost,  but 
■     '  ["'l^^^f,^"''^'^'  ^^^  i^^^le  and-upright  through  it 
.ill.     True,  the  attics  leaked,  and  the. cellars   were 
moldering,  and  the  chimneys  leaned  like  the  Tower  f 
of  Rsa  but  the  wall  would  have  borne  cannonading, 
and^not  minded  it  in  the  least,  and  the  doors  Si 
massive  oak  and  studdeckwith  huge  nails  of  iron  and 
brass  would  haVe  defied  a  battering-ram.    A  ouaint 
.Ic  place,  ,,i,,eakeagat^      highnarrow  winl't 
with  diamond  panes  set  in  leaden  casements,  and      ' 

o^a  ZT'T"""  f  ^^  ^"^'  ^^^^'^g  it  t^«  look 
of  a  broken  down  c1«^rch  retired  into  private  life 

It  was  from  this  last  it  took,  its  name-Tor;^ood 


.„  ,„„„  ^„  yj^jyj^^^  ii,s  name — Torwood 

lower.-and  there  had  been  a  time  when  MnaS™ 
floated  from  them  in  the  breeze,  announcing  toT ' 


-t-l 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


country  round  whep  the  lords  of  tlie  manor  were  at 
home.  But  that  time  had  passed  .f\vay  ;  there  was 
no  lord  to  reign  at  Torwood  Towers  now,  not  even 
an  h^,  but  a  jointured  widow  and  four  blooming 
heiresses. 

Never  before  had  Torwood  been  without  an  heir, 
but  though  the  late  Judge  Torwood  had  been  mar-' 
ried  three  times,  no  son  came  to  reign   when. ho 
should  have  passed  away.     One  daugh ter,  Miss  Lucy 
Torwood,  followed  his  first  marriage ;  three  daugh- 
ters, Mesdemoiselles  Edith,  Florence,  and  Margaret 
followed  his  second  ;  and  none  at  all  his  third.     He 
had  wedded  i^rst,  for  money,  a  Maryland  heiress, 
ugly  as  a  Hottentot,  and  with  the  purse  of  Fortuna- 
tus ;  he  had  wedded  next  for  love  a  beautiful  Creole, 
whom  he  met  in  Cuba;  and  ho  had  nuirricd  the  last 
time   for— he  could  hardly  have  told   himself,  for 
what.     Not  for  nionoy— he  had  enough  of  that,  and 
tl^e  lady  had  none  ;  not  for  love— at  sixty-live  gentle- 
men take  to  gout  and  rheumatism  oftener  than^to 
the  gra/nde  passion;  not  for  a  housekeeper— Miss 
Lucy  'Torwood  was  twenty  years  old  and  an  excel- 
lent manager.     But  in  Washington  he  had  met  Mrs. 
Stuart,  S,  handsome  and  well-preserved  Avidow  at  five- 
and-forty,  and  without  very  well  seeing  any  reason 
for  it,  he  proposed,  was  accepted,  and  married. 

Widows  of  forty-five  are  not  to  be  trifled  with. 
Mrs.  Stuart  clinched  the  bargain  at  once,  and  though 
her  son,  a  tall  young  man  of  five-and-twenty,  who 
with  M.  D.  aftef  his  name,  supported  his  mother  in 
very  good  style,  looked  grave  and  a  little  annoyed. 


# 


she  became  Mrs.  TorWood  the  third  week  after  the 
offer. 


THE  SfSTERS  OP  TORWOOD.  7 

Judge  Torwood  had  a  way  of  burying  his  wives, 
but  widows  with  grown  up  sons  are  apt  to  be  toueh 
and  the  third  Mrs.  Torwood  buried  him  three  years' 
after  she  married  him. 

It  was  in  Italy  the  sad  event  took  place;  they 
had  liyed  there  ever  since  the  marriage,  for  Judo-e 
Torwood's  health,  and  Mrs.  Torwood's  pleasure,  leav- 
ing only  the  eldest  and  the  youngest  Miss  Torwood 
at  home  to  look  after  the  old  place,  for  Miss  Edith 
was  in  Cuba  with  her  dead  mamma's  friends,  and 
Miss  Florence  was  in  a  fashionable  boarding-school 
m  New  York.    And  thaf  perhaps,  was  the  reason 
why  such  a  general  air  <^  neglect  and  desolation 
reigned  about  Torwoo^^wers,  why  the  broad  fields 
that  spread  away  around  it,  lay  waste  and  unculti- 
vated, why  the  fences  were  broken,  the  outhouses 
decaying,  the  roof  leaking,  the  orchard,  shrubbery 
and  flower-garden  running  wild,  the  swallows  build' 
ing  their  nests  undisturbed  in  the  eaves  and  sloping 
chimneys,  the  dogs  and  little  negroes  dozing  lazily 
all  day  m  the  sunshine  in  the  paved  courtyard  in 
front  of  the  house,  the  gates  hanging  from  their 
hinges,  and  grass  growing  tall   and  rank  in  the    , 
graveled  footpath  leading  down  to  the  sea.    For 
though  Miss  Torwood  was  an  excellent  manager 
she  was  only  a  young  lady  of  three-and-twenty,  too 
gentle  to  rule  a  tribe  of  lazy,  shiftless  servants,  and 
a  place  so  vast  as  Torwood  Towers  required  the  able 
head  and  strong  hand  of  a  man. 
In  Torw^town,  a  bustling,  self-im^rtant  little 


/ 


..!„„„  J  IX rT>  "  uuamng,  seu-important  littla 
Tlace,  Wf-miiiifg  yiTTage  haIf-city7^M^^ 
was  yery  littleknown,  except  to  the  tradespeople 
whose  busm^s  brought  them  to  the  Hall-  while 


o  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

Miss  Margaret,  better  known  as  Miss  Madge,  was  a 
celebrated  character,  known  to  all,  high  and  low. 

The    aristocracy   in    and  around    Torwoodtown 
called  sometimes  on  the  solitary  young  lady  in  the 
great  lonely  mansion  ;  but  as  Miss   Torwootl   was 
not  fond  of  society,  these  friendly  visits  were  rarely 
returned,  and  the  aristocracy  becaipe  offended,  and 
discontinued   them.     So  Miss  Lucy  became  known 
after  a  time  as  the  Eecluse  of  Tor  wood,  and  was 
rarely  seen  except  on  Sunday  at  the  little  Scotch 
kirk  in  the  town,  for  she  was  a  strict  follower  of 
John  Knox  and  her  Scotch  ancestors,  and  never 
failed,  rain  or  shine,  to  appear  every  Sabbath  morn- 
ing and  afternoon  in  the  square,  high-backed  pew 
under  the  pulpit.   'There  the  young  men  stared  at 
the  pretty,  quiet  face,  bending  over  her  hymn-book 
but  none  of  them  got  farther  than  lifting  their  hats' 
for  Miss  Lucy  had  a  quiet  dignity  about  her,  that 
said  in  very  large  print,  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  come, 
and  no  farther." 

The  gossii)s  whispered  that  Mr.  Alexander  ^c- 
Pherson,  the  tall  young  man  in  the  white  neckcloth, 
who  propounded  the  Word  to  the  kirk-goers  of  Tor- 
woodtown, and  whose  hair  was  sandy,  whose  face- 
Avas  freckled,  and  who  spoke  through  his  nos0>  never 
was  so  eloquent  a*s  when  Lucy  Torwood's  fair  face 
looke<l  up  at  him,  banging  the  pulpit,  and  that  his 
shambling  pony  took  him  down  the  bridle-path  lead- 
ing over  the  hill  from  the  town  to  the  Hall  rather 
oftener  than  there  seemed  any  real  necessity  for. 

Bui  nobody  knew  exactly  how  this  wa%  aad 


Miss  Lucy,  taking  care  of  her  somewhat  self-willed 
younger  sister  Madge,  a  sprightly  damsel  of  Bbm£& 


I  ! 


was  a 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  9 

teen,  and  attending  to  her  housekeeping,  and  read- 
ing and  sewing  at  home,  cared  very  little  what  any- 
body said,  and  went  serenely  on  in  the  even  tenor  of 
her  way.  Being  so  unobtrusive  a  character,  it  was 
nothing  strange  that  Torwoodtown  should,  after  a 
while,  forget  almost  that  there  was  such  a  place  in 
existence  as  the  Towers,  or  such  a  young  lady  as 
Miss  Torwood  reigning  there;  in  solitary  state,  when 
an  event  occurred  that  brought  both  facts  suddenly 
and  vividly  back  to  their  mjeniory. 

The  event  was  the  unexpected  arrival  of  Madame 
Torwood,  from  Italy,  cla(l/in  the  deepest  and  richest 
habiliments  of  woe  and  4vidowhood,  and  bringing 
with  her  about  two  dozen  trunks,  and  an  equal 
number  of  bandboxes,  and  a  spruce  French  maid, 
who  wore  long  golden  drops,  silk  aprons  with  cun- 
ning little  pockets,  in  which  her  hands  were  always 
stuck,  and  who  looked  in  splendid  disdain  out  of  her 
black  eyes  on  TorwoodtoAvn  and  everybody  in  it. 

It  was  a  warm  June  evening  when  the  widow 
came,  and  a  warmer  day  succeeded.     From  early 
morning  the  sun  had  throbbed  like  a  heart  of  fire  in 
the  purplish  sky,  and  at  its  setting  was  burning  out 
in  scarlet  splendor.     The  sea,  clothed  with  sails,  re- 
flected t]^  red  glory  of  the  dying  day  in  its  mirror- 
like  surfafce,  and  the  long  lazy  swells  broke  one  after 
another  with  a  gentle  wash  on  the  white  sand.     Tor-  " 
wood  Towers  lay  still  and  lifeless  as  the  Castle  of  | 
the  Sleeping  Beauty ;  the  dogs  dozing  on  the  flag- 
stones,  and  the  naked  little  negroes  rolling  over 
in  the  ^warm  sand,  tho-enly  living-  things  to  bg^ 
seen. 

Lower  and  lower  the  red  sun  sank,  dipped  behind 


,**■•_   ', 


10 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


the  glowing  horizon,  and  was  gone.     The  evening 
star  and  a  pale  young  crescent  n/oon  rose  up  in  its 
stead,  a  delicious  breeze  flo^te/  from  the  sea,  and 
then  a  door,  opening  on  the  piazza  running  around 
the  second  story,  opened,   a/d  a.  lady  came  out 
and  began  walking  slowly  L  and  down,  up  and 
down  and  watching  the  white  sails  flitting  over  the 
wave!  ess  waters.  ■      / 

A  lady,  tall  of  figure,  stately  of  mien,  and  hauffhtv 
of  carriage ;  a  lady  who  had  been  young  and  hand- 
some thirty  years  before,  but  whose  dark  hair  was  " 
threaxied  with  silver  now  ;  whose  brunette  complex- 
ion had  faded  to  sallow;  whose  chin  was  double,  and 
ran  into  a  throat  unbending  and  stiff  as  a  feillar- 
whose  mouth  was  hard  and  unsmiling  ;  uhose  step 
told  a  tale  of  iron  resolution,  and  whose  eye  was  like 
a  hawks_a  lady  dressed  in  black  from  head  to  foot 
and  lookmg  in  her  sables  and  crape  like  a  dowager 
duchess,  a  lady,  in  short,  who  deposed  Miss  Lucy 
and  was  the  new  Mistress  of  Torwood  ' 

Up  and  down  the  piazza,  up  and  down,  up  and 
down,  the  lady  walked,  her  eyes  sometimes  wander- 
ing over  the  wide  sea,  sometimes  looking  steadfastly 
at  the  boards  she  was  treading,  sometimes  fixed  im- 
patiently on  the  door  from  which  she  had  issued 

Ten  minutes  passetl.  The  lady's  brows  were  con- 
tracting; plamlyshe  was  not,used  to  waiting;  then 
the  door  opened,  and  a  gentleman  stepped  out  and 
joined  her     A  gentleman  who  would  have  looked     / 

who  at  thirty  should  have  looked  young,  but  who  / 
by  the  aid  of  spectacles,  an  old-fashioned  coat,  and 


; 


a  preternaturaUy  grave    countenance  looked'  old 


A*tK-«^  < 


i  ' 


•-f  >'■ 


A 


v/ 


b 


ThE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  n 

3'd\t^''  own  father ;  agentleman^who  was 
freckled,  hid  sandy  hair,  and  spoke  through  his 
nose,  andv  iho  was  known  as  the  Keverend  Atex- 
ander  McPlderson,  of  Torwoodtown 

"Well?"  said  the  Jady,  fixing  her  keen,  dark  eyes 
on  his  face,  and  stopping  in  her  walk 

nasJd  "'  ?''"" ;  •"  "'^^'''^  '^^  ^'^-  ^^lexander,  in  the 
nasal  drawl  peculiar  to  him,  "  I  have  got  through." 

tl~itr^^^"^"^^"^"^"--^^^^<^<>y- 

The  Rev  Alexander  was  the  most  honest,  plain- 
spoken,  and  straightforward  of  men.     «  The  truth 
the  whole  truth   and  nothing  but  the  truth,"  was 
the  golden  rule  he  persistently  followed  in  spite  of 
the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.     I„  his  hTnd  he 
carried  a  black  cudgel;  he  always  carried  it?  and 
t  w^uld  have  .erved  an  Irishman  at  Donnybrook 
fair      When  some  tremendous  bullet  of  truth  was 
ready  to  whiz  out,  it  was  his  custom  to  strike  h^ 
shillelah  a  smart  rap  on  the  ground.    He  gave  it  a 
knock  now  that  made  the  piazza  ring.  ^  ^^ ''' ^ 

"  I  think,  ma'am,  it  is  the  most  unjust,  absurd  and 
ridiculous  will  that  was  ever  heard  of »  "       " 

flaJhedfir'e''  ""'"  '^"  '"^^^^'  ^"^  ^^    ^^^s 
"Sir!" 

ffivLV'thf  •'*'  ""^^^"^l  '^'^  '^^  ^^^-  Alexander, 
fZ^  fi!^''*  ^"^^'^^^  ^^P'  "i*^'«  the  most  pre- 
posterous  thing  that  ever  was  known.    My  l2 

in^thejudge,mu,thavebeens<^k,staiiTi™ 
when  he  mada  ,f     Tir„^ , '  ""^'"K/nnn" 


A 


hare. 


» 


he  made  it.    Mad,  ma'am ;  mad  as  a  March  .    1 


■%^J 


3&M,*.iUftl.^ "'»■?'  4%,      ^^,       f.  . 


12 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


•  "You  are  mistaken,  sir.    My  husband  was  per- 
fectly sane."  ^ 

"  Beg  your  pardon,  ma'am  •  no  sane  man  could 
have  made  such  a  will !  It  carries  absurdity  on  the 
tace  of  It.  If  one  had  read  of  it  in  the '  Children  of 
the  Abbey,'  or  the  '  Mysteries  of  Udolpho,'  he  would 
not  have  been  surprised  ;  but  in  the  ninetenth  cen- 
tury, and  by  a  Christian  man,  and  what  is  more,  a 
.Scotchman,  and  what  is  still  more,  a  Presbyterian  f 
Oh,  ma'am,  you'll  excuse  me,  but  the  judge  must 
have  been  as  mad  as  a  Bedlamite." 

"Mr.  McPherson,"  said  the  ladv,  facing  around 
rather  fiercely,  "do  you  mean  to  insult  me?" 

Tvr"^V^i?  "''^'''"''  ™''^'«™'"  s«^flthe  imperturbable' 
Mr.  McPherson,  no  way  discomposed;  "you  asked 
my  opmion  and  you  have  it."  / 

"Opinions   can    be  rather  too  plainly  expressed.  ' 
Be  good  enough  to  remember  you  are  speaking  of 
my  dead  husband."  / 

"  It's  a  most  extraordinary  wilj,  ma'am." 
"  My  husband  was  a  most  extraordinary  man  sir  " 
"  I  always  knew  him  to  be  eccentric,"  said  the 
Kev.  Alexander,  "  but  I  never  before  took  him  to  be 

quite  a  foo ."     Here  the  plains-poken  divine  had 

the  grace  to  pause,  and  takingan  immense  snuff-box 
out  of  his  pocket,  gave  it  a  hard  rap  on  the  lid,  and 
politely  presented  it  to  the  lady. 

"  Snuff  ? "  he  inquired,  sententiously/    ' 

Madame  Toru-ood  gavp  it  aside  long  glance  of  dis- 
gust.       ^  \^ 

"Not  any,   thank  you.     You  were  surprised  I 
l"PPose,  when  I  sent  fot^^^faj^  afternoon  to  read  - 
my  husband's  will  ? " 


"I 


> 


\^  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  13 

'  nini  ^'flf  ^:-  ^^^^'•^^'^  r-Pii^d.  <l'a  wing  a  huge 
p  nqh  of  Maccaboy  up  his  capacious  nostrils,  and  then 
blowing  a  J,last  that  awoke  the  echoed  in  the 
lonely  glen.    "I    couldn't  see    the   necessity   for 

lioMtJ^e  judge  when  he  expressed  the  request  that 
'/you.^hot.ld   peruse   it  as  soon  as  I  arrived  ;     bu 

course'"  \  "'''  '^'  '"^"'^'  '  ^^^^^^'  «^ 

Mr.  McPWrson  nodded  gravely,  and  pulled  out  a 
huge  silver  \*'atch. 

"  Yes,  maV,  and  noAV  is  there  anything  else  for 
I  must  be  goi^g."  ^      ^       '  '^^ 

heard  through  the  servants'  gossip,  and  has  told  me 
that  you  are  pti^ying  attention-  I  believe  that  is  the 
phrase-to  Mis  Torwood.  Under  present  circum- 
s  ances  you  wiH  see  the  necessity  of  discontinuing 
those  attentions  ^it  once." 

Anybody  but  the  Rev.  Alexander  McPherson 
would  have  beeA  discomfited  by^such  an  oflFhand 
^^ay  of  doing  business;  but  it  was  not  in  the  power 
of  mortal  mj^n  or  woman  to  discomfit  that  se5-pos^ 
sessed  divine.  ^ 

^g^  on^y  pulled  out  the  big  snuflf-box  again,  and 
helM  himself  to  another  huge  pinch.    "  Certainly 
^i«^j^tainly.     You  expect  your  son  shortly,  It 

_  "  Yes^J  saw^him.in  Washington  the ^ay  before^ 
yesteraay,  but  only  for  a  few  moments.     ProS 
sional  duties  prevented  his  returning  with  me  then, 


\ 


'4  THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 

ev"e"„3"'  "'"^  '""'  "»"■    '  ■"»  -i«»S  for  hte. 


S^.- 


"^l 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TOR  WOOD. 


15 


CHAPTER  II. 


LUCY. 

Both  turned  round.  A  tallyoungman  stood  in  the 
doorway,  hat  in  hand,  and  Madame  Norwood's  saUow 
face  lighted  up  with  pleasure  at  the  sight. 

"My  dear  Paul,"  she  said,  holding  out  her  hand, 
"I  am  delighted  to  see  you.  When  did  you  ar- 
rive ? "  ' 

"  Ten  minutes  ago.  The  servant  who  admitted  me 
guided  me  here~I  hope  I  am  not  an  intruder." 

"  Not  at  all ;  we  were  just'  speaking  of  vou.    Let 
me  make  you  acquainted  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  McPher- 
son,  of  Torwoodtown.    Mr.   McPhorson— mv  son 
Dr.  Paul  Stuart."  "^         ' 

Both  gentleman  bowed,  the  doctor  with  a  half 
smile  at  the  other's  odd  look,  and  the  minister  with 
gravest  solemnity. 

"lam  pleased  to  make  your    aquaintance,  Dr 
Stuart,"  he  said  eying,  the  young  M.  D.  all  over     « I 
h^ve  heard  agreat  deaWf  you.     You  are  very  clever 
m  cases  where  the  brains  are  affected,  I  believe  ?  "^ 
"I  hmej  devoted  a  good  deal  of  my  time  to  that 
particular  portion  of  the  human  anatomy.     I  trust 
you  will  never  need  my  services." 
._^He  had^n>alf4aughing  way  of  saying  tfiinp,fEir^ 
gr,  Stuart,  that  puzzled  you,  and  left  you  in  doubt 
vWftther  he  was  in  jest  or    earnest.     His  smile, 


ifeSi&sX-. 


..a. 


r 


i6 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWbOD. 


very  genial  and  bright  tbpugh  it  was,    puzzled  you 
too;  you  could  not  tell  whether  he  was  laughing  with 
or  at  you.     He  did  not  lo©k  like  his  mother,  and  he 
was  none  the  worse  for  thtit,  the  Eev.  Mr  McPher- 
son  thought,  except  that  he  %as  tall  like  her,  broad- 
shouldered,  full-ehested,  and  .deep  voiced.    His  hair 
was  li^ht,  his  eyes-very  handsome  S^iT^ythe  way 
—blue,  bright,  piercing,  j^et  what  are  called  laugh- 
ing eyes  withal.    His  face  Ws  not  handsome,  and  he 
wore  neither  beard  nor  mustache,  but  intellect  sat  en- 
throned on  the  broad,  white  brow,  and  refinement 
around  the  clear-eut  mouth. 

Dr.  Stuart  was  sarcastic,  pei»haps,a  little  cynical, 
but  by  no  me^ns  out  of  tune  with  the  world,  fastid- 
ious, keen-sighted  in  reading  character,  and  clever  in 
dissimulation.    Lavater  could  haVe  told  all  that  but 
for  the  rest  he  knew  best  what  he  knew  himself 
whether  mercenary  or  generous,  subtle,  dr  wearing 
his  heart  on  his  sleeve,  faithless  or  constant,  pleasuir^  ' 
lovmg  or  of  hermi^like  continence.     Standing  in  the 
doorway,  still  watching  the  sandy-hairpd  minister 
with  the  same  doubtful  smile,  he  looked  a  fine,  health, 
ful  specimen  of  manhood^a  lord  of  creation  in  every 
sense  of  the  >vord.  ,  > 

'  ^\^^^'^\  '"''^^  ^"''^  ^'^^'^    ^^-  McPherson  pulled 
ont  his  silver  watch  and  consulted  it  again. 

"Ten  minutes,  and  a  luilf  slow,"  he  said,  sol- 
emnly; "I  must  be  going.  Good-night,  ma'am, 
good-niglt,  doctor.  The  first  time  you  visit  the  town 
giTe  me  a  call-shall.be  happy  to  see  you  in  my  hum- 
ble wigwam,"  "  , 
-With  which  Taledictory  the  woi-thy  clfsyman  ~ 
who,  strange  to  say,  when  he  invited  any body°  reaUy 


J 


>« 


THE  SISTER  OF  TORWOOD.  ^^ 

meant  it,  wefnt  off  slouchinglj  down  the  pi^a  stairs, 
mounted  his  shambling  pony,  and  rode  away  in  the 
misty  moonlight  over  the  hillsito  Tdrwoodtown,  leav- 
ing mother  an*l  son  alone  together. 

'fWho  is  that  odd-looking  customer  ?»  was  thfi 
young  man's  first  question. 

"  Oh,  a  Presbyterian  minister,"  said  the  lady  with 
an  expressive  shrug ;  "a  well-meaning  man,  I  believe, 
but  such  a  bear,  such  Or^right." 

"  One  of  those  men,  I  fancy  like  singed-cats— bet- 
ter than  they   look,"  and   he  laughed  his  pleasant 
yet  half-cynical  laugh.     "Well,  mother  mine,  and 
how  do  you  like  Torwood  Towers  ?  " 

The  lady  took  his  arm,  and  began  walking  him  up 
and  down  the  piazza. 

"  I  detest  it.    1  should  die  of  ennui  here  in  a 

,^onth.     It  is  like  being  buried  alive." 

"It  is  a  fine  old  place,  nevertheless," 

"  Yes,  for  the  rats,  the  dogs,  and  those  filthy  blacks. 

Il^is  like  a  barn,  damp  and  cold  and  dreary— it  makes 

me  think  of  '  Marianne  in  the  Moated  Grange '     T 

hate  it?"  .  ,  "6  •     x 

"  You  will  not  live^ere,  then  ? " 

"  I  would  be  sorry  to  live  here.  No,  indeed,  I  will 
leave  it  as  soon  as  I  can,  and  go  to  Washington, 
Baltimore,  or  New  York." 

"  And  that  will  be— how  soon  ? " 

"  As  soon  as  you  are  married." 

'  Oh l"8aid  Dr.  Stuart;  and  then  there  wasalonff 
pause.  °   . 

^  "  Mr.  McPherson  has  just  been^  readiag  tfee  witi^ 
was  Madame  Torwood's  next  seemingly  not  verV 
apposite  remark.  ^ 


.''l/'.-Xi  ^Sfli'i^:-^ 


/.. 


m^ 


'.*?,; 


.^*: 


^^ 


i8 


THE   SISTERS- OF   TORWOOD. 


"Has  he?"  ^^.^^      , 

"  Yes  "  '  ■  ^h  ^f  •%' 

"  And  what  d#  h^UinK  6f  it  ? "      " 
"AllsQTts^f  ^office  ;  that  it  is  unjust,  absurd, 
ridicul^Sj^M|^o  on.'*  ,    '  *        *". 

"  I  agr'^^^imh  him.'' 
'^Paul?"        ^  •  -      ■ 

"  My  dear  mother,  you  are  talking  to  Vour  son, 
your  heir,  your  darting,  your  only-one.  Bo  natural ; 
speak  your  mind  and  say  you  think '  so  your- 
self." ;" 

"  Paul,  don't  be  absurd';  I  am  certain  that  the  judge 
never  did  a  wiser  act  i^  his  lif.e  than  in  the  manner 
in  which  he  has  provided  for  his  daughter.','   ' 

The  doctor  laughed. 

"  For  one  of  them,  mother— I  can't  marry  them  all. 
It  was  his  own  act,  of  course.  I  am  certain  my 
dear  mamma  had  no  hand  in  it" 

"  Paul,  what  a  detestable  way  you  have  of  talking. 
No  one  can  ever  tell  whether  you  are  serious  of  in 
yest.",  ..  , 

/    "In  jest!     Nothing  of  the  kind.      I  never  was 
^ore  dismally  serious  in  my  life.      I  am  positive 
exerci^^i^o  inflai^ce  over  him  in  favor  of  your 


Very  little.     I  may  have  suggested,  the  idea,  but 
nothing  more,"  ' 

"  He  never  saw  me,  yet  he  provides  for  me  better  ^ 
than  he  does  for  his  own  daughters-J-all   withotfft: 
being  prompted.      Thank  you.  Judge  Tor  wood;" 
and  he  raised  his  hat  politely. 

=,^"Bah!  -youll  never  talk  sease^  Ha^ve  y^a  any  6b- 
jections  to  this  will  ? " 


u... 


■i..?> 


k 


I  shall 


.      THE   SiSXiCKS   OK  *>Rwdob. 

•'None  at  all.     irow  could  I  ? " 

"  How,  indeed.  Some  pe(,ple  are  l^orn  with  a  sil- 
ver  spoon  in  their  mouth,  and  value  it  *<.  more  than 
If  It  were  lead.  How  long  ai,  I  to  be  kept  a 
prisoner  here  'i " 

"  That  dep^ds  upon  yoiwolf,  midaiii." 
"  No  such  thing,  sir »  it  (depends  on  yoit 

stay  here  until  you  make  your  choice." 
"  Oh  !  '^"said  the  doctor  again^  and  ||en  there  was 

another  pause.  ;       *  |||§, 

"  Wdli"  inquired  Madame  Torwc    1  after  it  had 
lasted  nearly  ten  minutes. 
"  Weir? »  reiterate<l  her  sop,  like  an  #ho. 
"■Paul,  I  have  no  patiem  e  witJi  v<m.     Vou  are 

enough  to  provoke  a^aint!     Have  vou  notiiincrto 
say?"  -  "        »      •  ° 

^"L6ts    of,  things.      Shall    we    begin    with    the 
weatlier  !     It's  a  safe  topic." 

%shall,begin  by  boxingyour  ea-rs,"  said  t^ladv 
smihng  in  si)ite  o/ herself  at  the  young  man's  inno-' 
cent  face.    "I  waht  you  to  talk"  about  these   Tor- 
Avood  sisters."  * 

"A  delightful  subject  on  which  I  know  nothing 
wluitever."  ^ 

"  Aiul  care  less,  I  suppose  ? "       ^ ,.        ;  ' 

"  By  no  means,  madam  ;  I  am  allays  profoundly 

mterest^d  where  young  ladies  are  in  question  " 
"  Especially  when  one  of  the  young  ladies  is  to  be 

your  future  wife."  , 

"Oh  ! "  said  the  d'octor  for  the  third  time,  in  a 
tone  not  betraying  Ihe  slightest  pkrticle  of  emotiOli. 
-  .   liOtt    kfe^,"   persisted    the  :lady,    "that   m^ 
youngest  and  oldest  are  here  ?  " 


*,: 


\ 


20 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


"I  know  it  now— I  did  not  before." 

"  Lucy  and  Margaret  are  here,  one  aged  twenty- 
three,  the  other  sixteen.  Edith,  who  is  next  to 
Lucy,  and  who  is  twenty  past,  lives  in  Cuba.— has 
lived  there  all  her  life." 

"  Has  she  ?  "  said  the  doctor,  indifferently,  seeing 
he  was  expected  to  say  something. 

**|Ier  mother,  Judge  Tor  wood's  second  wife,  was 
a  dreole,  and  this  Edith  was  born  there.  At  her 
mother's  death,  a  Creole  aunt  took  her,  and  kept  her 
all  this  time.  I  wrote  for  her  a  month  ago  and 
received  an  answer  from  the  aunt  that  she  would 
obey  the  summons.  Probably,  she  will  be  here 
before  the  end  of  the  week." 

"  The  aunt  did  not  require  much  urging  to  give 
her  up?"  ^ 

"  Oh,  it  is  an  understood  thing  that  she  is  to  go 
back  ;  she  merely  comes  here  in  compliance  with  her 
deceased  father's  last  request  that  all  his  daughters 
should  spend  at  least  half  a  year  together  in  this 
place  upon  my  return,  for  a  reason  which  you  and  I 
already  know,  and  which  is  to  be  explained  to  them 
when  together.  Their  father's  dying  request  must 
have  weight  with  them,  little  as  they  knew  of  him. 
This  Edith,  it  appears,  scarcely  knew  him  at 
aU." 

"  Ah !  she  will  not  be  quite  inconsolable;  at  his 
loss,  then."         '  ^  , 

"  The  third  daughter,  Florerlbe,  aged  eighteen,  is 

at  a  boarding-school  in  New  York.     I  called  at  the 

school  the  day  before  I  left,  but  it  was  a  holiday,  it 

lippearaTltiTd  teachers  and  pupiTs  were  allih  the"" 

country.    I  left  a  letter,  h(^ever,  for  the  directress, 


( *> 


♦  ''-^^l. 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


21 


Miss  De  Juponville,   explaining  all,  telling  her  to 
pack  up  the  young  lady  and  her  belongings,  and  . 
send  them  on  hero  without  delay." 

"Did  you  say  the  name  of  the  directress  was 
Madame  De  Juponville?"  asked  Dr.  Paul,  with 
sudden  interest. 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  name." 

"  And  th^semihary  is  in Street  ?  " 

"  Yes,  have  you  been  there  ?  " 

The  doctor  laughed  his  very  doubtful  laugh,  and 
his  blue  eyfes  looked  knowing. 

"Oh,  I  have  been  there.  Florence  Torwood — 
hum-m-m.     Do  you  know  what  Florence  looks  like  ? " 

"No;  why?"  ^^ 

"  Nothing ;  perhaps  I  have^spn  her  there,  that  is 
all.  Do  you  not  find  this  night  breeze  chilly — shall 
we  go  in  ? "  , 

"I  prefer  staying  here.  Now,  Paul,  my  dear 
boy,  you  understand  how  matters  are,  and  I  am  sure 
you  will  do  your  best  and  not  disappoint,  your 
mother." 

"  Which,  translated,  means,  I  suppose,  i  am  to  o^  -> 
good,  and  mar "  « 

He  stopped  short,  for  through  the  open  doorway 
he  saw  a  young  lady  crossing  the  hall  and  coming 
toward  them.  A  slender  figure,  with  pale  gol^den 
hair,  drcissed  very  simply  in  black,  and  dangling  a 
bunch  of  housekeeping  keys  in  one  hand.  Madame 
Torwood  saw  her  too,  and  spoke. 

"Mias  Tor  wood — Lucy — come  here  one  moment, 
^his^  iwmy  son,  Br.~Stuart,— Pairl,  Miss  Torwood:**^ 

"I  am  happy  to  make  Miss  Tor  wood's  acquaint- 
ance," the  doctor  said,  while  the  young  lady  dropped 


i\t 


"  ) 


p't!',  M^.l.VU.  ^j»JJB*iail   t«5^1 


22 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


"  A  fine  old  place 


her  eyes  and  bowed  in  silence, 
this  ancestral  home  of  yours," 

He  had  been  taking  a  cool  survey,  not  of  the  old 
place,  but  of  the  young  lady  while  he  spoke,  and 
before  he  had  finished  his  short  speech,  had  formed 
his  opinion.     Wjiat  it    was  he  knew  best,  but  "cer- 
tainly one  of  ^{Conclusions  must  have  been  that 
she  was  pretty. .  The  pale  gold   hair,  worn  in  a 
simple  knot  behind,  was  abundant  and  glossy  ;  the 
brow  it  shaded  both  broad  and  high ;  the  features 
small,  delicate,  and  regular;  the  complexion  fair, 
with  just  enough  rose  tint  in  the  cheeks  to  save  her 
being  called  pale.    It  was  a  gentle  face,  placid  and 
calm,  and  Miss  Lucy  was  a  fireside  fairy,  as  you 
know  already,,  shining,  not  in  the  glare  of  society, 
with  very  Uttle  to  say,  and  saying  that  little  very 
modestly,  in  a  very  low  and  sweet   tone.     Some 
youthful  scions  of  the  female  aristocracy  of  Tor- 
woodtown  stigmatized  her  as  "  that  insipid  thing;" 
but  all  the  world  knows  how  the  dear  angels  talk  of 
each  other  behind  backs ;  and  Miss  Lucy,  though 
she  heard  it,  never  retaliated,  but  smiled  upon  them 
as  gently  and  as  kindly  the  next  time  they  met  as 
ever. 

Did  Dr.  Paul  Stuart,  clever  man  of  the  world,  sick 
of  fashionable  flirts  and  gaudy  ball-room  butterflies, 
like  quiet  little  household  angels,  soft  of  step,  silvery 
of  voice,  and  deft  of  hand  ?  If  so,  Lucy  Torwood 
iimst  have  suited  him  to  the  finest  fiber  of  his  being, 
for  in  her,  at  tn^e  glance,  he  read  all  of  these. 

"A  fine  old  pEi^."tbe^deetef  repeated,  faig  eyes  — 


turning  at  last  fro^  the  pretty  quiet  face  to  the 
prospect  before  him ;  «  a  place  to  be  proud  of," 


i 


<'AwuAji(iMir$m  ■ 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


23 


"Yes;"  Lucy  said,  simply,  but  her  eycfe  shone 
and  her  still  face  lighted  as  she  said  it. 

You  could  see  she  was  proud  of  it,  and  in  lierown 
silent  way  loved  every  tree,  and  shrub,  and  stone 
about  it.  Very  fair  it  looked  in  the  moonlight— all 
that  was  rough  and  harsh  toned,  down  and  refined  ; 
the  sea,  flooded  with  the  silvery  light,  surging  in 
with  a  gentle  wash  on  the  shore,  and  the  distant 
boats  looking  like  fairy  barks  on  a  fairy  sea. 

"  Where  is  your  sister  ? "  Madame  Torwood  sud 
denly  asked.  She  had  been  gazing  steadfastly  on 
the  water,  watching  a  light  skjff  that  was  rapidly 
nearing  the  shore,  the  rope  of  its  one  wliite  sail 
held  by  a  young  girl  who  lay  in  the  stern  singing 
at  the  top  of  a  pair  of  powerful  lungs  some  wild  sea 
chorus. 

"  Madge  is  out  somewhere — she  is  alway^  out." 

"  Who  is  that  girl  coming  ashore  in  the  boat  ?  " 

Luc3''s  eyes  followed  the  lady's  index  finger. 

"That  is  Madge,"  she  said,  in  a  matter-of-fact 
tone ;  "  she's  been  out  sailing,  I  suppose." 

Madame  Torwood's  brow  contracted. 

"May  I  ask,  ^Miss  Torwood,, if  it  is  your  sister's 
custom  to  go  sailing  all  alone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  madam." 

"Is  she — are  you — not  afraiu  she  will  be 
drowned  ? " 

"Who?  Madge!  Why,  there  is  not  a  fisher- 
man in  Torwoodtown  can  manage  a  boat  better 
thaiishe?" 

"  A  rare   aocomplishmcnt    for   a    young    lady. 


Pray,  how  many   more  of  these  fantastic  tricks 
before  high  heaven  does  she  j)lay  ?  " 


Nf. 


24 


THE   SISTERS   6f  TORWOOD. 


"  Madam  ? "  inquired  Lucy,"  looking  puzzled. 
Dr.  Stuart  laughed,  and  good-naturedly  came  to 
the  rescue. 

"  Never  mind,  mother.  '  What's  the  odds  so  long 
she's  happy,'  as  our  friend  Punch  says.  By  Jove! 
she  does  it  well." 

The  heroine  of  the  skrff  had  run  her  boat  deftly 
up  on  the  sands  in  a  little  cove,  had  sprung  lightlv 
ashore,  nuide  it  fast,  slung  the  light  oars  over  her 
shoulder,  nnd,  still  sirjging,  began  tripping  in  a 
jaunty,  springing  stop  ijj)  the  beach.  A  dog— a  huge 
Livonian  wolf-hound  th'at  had  beeh  crouching  in  the 
bottom  of  the  boat— followed  her,  and  both  made 
a  very  pretty  tableau  in  the  moonlight."  ^ 

"  Una  and  her  lion,"  said  the  doctor.    '"  Your  sister 
is  of  the  Di  Vernon  style  of  young  ladies,  I  see,  Miss 
Torwood." 
Miss  Torwood  smiled. 

"  Madge  never  heard  of  Di  Yernon  in  her  life." 
"  She  never  reads  then  ? " 

"  Oh,  yes  ;  but  not  the  '  ^averley  Novels.'  She 
tried  once  to  read  the  *  Bride  bf  Lammerraoor,'  I  re. 
member;  but  gave  it  up  at  the  third  chapter,  and 
told  me  it  was— let  me  see— no  end  of  a  hum- 

The  doctor  laughed  again,  and  Madame  Torwood'^sj 
haughty  brow  contracted  still  more  at  the  sound  q^' 
the  slang.  The  phrase  sounded  very  odd  from  Lucrf^ 
pretty  lips,  but  she  repeated  it  with  so  much  sirr^ 
plicity  that  it  had  provoked  the  doctor's  last  laugh. 
Una  and  her  lion  were  now  near,  and  they  couhi 
^«ar  distincttjr  the  spirited  Words  of  the  oldlonphe 


mng. 


K 


\ 


\M- 


in   a 


!• 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  25 

"""Some  love  to  roam 
O'er  the  dark  sea  foam, 
Where  the  shrill  winds  whistle  free  ; 
But  a  chosen  band 
In  a  mountain  land, 
-    And  a  home  in  the  woods  for  me ! " 

"  A  home  in  the  woods? "  mustered  Madame  Tor- 
wood.  "  Yes,  I  should  think  so.  Among  bears  and 
wild  Indians  would  suit  you  best." 

All  unconscious  of  the  criticism,  Madge  Torwood 
was  up  the  grass-grown  foot-path,  with  her  oars  on 
her  shoulder,  her  dog  at  her  heels,  up  the  piazza  stairs, 
with  her  tune  stiU  on  her  lips,  and  flushed  and,  breath- 
less, was  in  their  midst  the  next  moment. 


She 

(               ,              ■          ' 

IreT 

'■■ 

i 

and 

lum- 

' 

►od^ 
d  Q^' 

J 

A. 

Sim-   // 

i 
i 

i  • 
\ 

■1 

JUld   // 

\- 

~i 

f 

7                  "" 

« 

26 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORVVOOD. 


5> 


CHAPTER  III. 


MADGE. 

-egnlar  and  not  .,  „„  p,ett.v ;  shin    gthii tr 
and  hands  brown  and  Jiird\J,fh  '^'"te teeth, 

-n  and.,„d  a„<.  not  al;;:!,:'*  ^^-Tr";:  %j:;: 

was  Madge  Tonrood  as  she  stood  o„  ,1,      ■        • 
the  twilight.     A  black  straw  haTtith     ^  '"T  ? 
feather  sat  jauntily  on  one  side  of  h     h^?"!  ^1 

on  the  wing,  or  a  trout  in  the  tvafer  wfth  hT.  i    !! 

My^mms[m^J^„'E.J^- .  A  youngs 


^ady^4pp,j^-^-;„--,^_^ 


./- 


\ 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


.    27 

thr/1"!  '';°r"'""y  ■^""dontheshoulderwhen 
they  (1  Kl  deeds  she  approved  ;  called  them  "  fellows  " 
and  ordeml  them  about  as  if  she  bad  been  thdr 
grandmother;  ,vho  read  the  sporting  papers  taS 
s^ang,  sang  all  the  comic  songs  of  the  da/and  taew 
more  about  prize-fights  than  her  prayer^ 

Miss  Madge  was  all  this  and  more ;  not  hi  the 
least  pretty  either,  yet  half  the  you„g'me„  fn  the 
p  ace  were  going  wild  for  her.  Whether  it  was  her 
o  talf  r;,.'"'''''''""*  "^''^'-  ierspirite.1  way 

thetStBr'°r'"r'''"''''^''^'"»"°"'''«»' 
the  witch,  the  bewildered  youths  never  could  tell  • 

but  certain  it  is,  she  had  three  times  as  many  beaux' 

as  any  other  girl  in  the  town.    Madge  liki^  them 

aU^and  treated  all  precisely  alike,  if  she  had  any 

preference  she  sometimes  said,  when  hard  pusheT 

.twasfortheE.v.  Alexa„derMcPhe«,n,onrou  t 
of  h,s  never-to-be-sufficiently  admired  waV  of  always 

telingtheplain  unvarnished  trnthibut,  oh!  JZ^d 
he  tell  It  through  his  nose !  I„  this  last  particular  ^ 
was  uncommonly  like  him  hei^lf,  always  saying  pi' 
cisely  what  she  thought  with  terriblecandor,  and  C 
n  consequence,  the  dread  and  detestation  of  all  tto 
female  element  of  theplace.    "Tomboy,"  "bralen  " 

"indelicate-'were  their  mildest  adjectiv^whenSs 
Torwood  the  younger  was  under  dissection  and  fhat 
poor  dear  Miss  Torwood,  theelder,  whotriilharf 

si^hJS  oTe^  """  '""^  ■="  ^^«"»"^'  "-  P'«  »^ 
Lucy  certainly  had  done  her  best  with  the  wild 
girl,  and  ,^hersj«xesshad_notbeeii  very  gr^at  L- 
^as  peater  than  any  one  else  could  have  ^com      " 
pli^hed;  attd  Madge  had  an  outlandish  se^rof 


*»    -J.      -^'^'l 


k¥^4t^vLi^AM^^M:SAsl.£'^iM'^ 


28 


THE   SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


gratitude  of  her  own,  and  would  sometimes  come  in 
a  good  and  penitent  mood,  after  some   desperate 
freak,  and  put  her  arms  round  Lucy's  neck  and  call 
herselj  all  sorts  of  hard  names  for  grieving  her 
promising  repentance  and  amendment  of  life  for  the 
future.    Not  that  these  promises  were  ever  kept, 
sincere  as  she  doubtless  was  in  making  them,  and 
half  an  hour  after  she  was  galloping  over  the  coun- 
try, or  sailing  over  the  sea,  risking  her  good-for- 
nothing  neck  as  recklessly  as  ever.    Nature  had 
certainly  made  a  great  mist^e  in  not  making  her  a 
boy,  and  Miss  Madge  thought  so  too,  and  took  the 
matter  particularly  hard. 

"  I  was  intended  for  a  boy,  and  I  ought  to  be  a 
boy,"  was  her  indignant  cry.  "I  had  no  business 
being  a  girl.  I  hate  girls  !  and  I  like  boys  beyond 
everything ! "    . 

Among  her  other  eccentricities,  Madge  professed 
no  religion  in  particular,  but  patronized  all.     Some 
Sundays  she  went  with  Lucy,  and  stared  the  Rever- .. 
end  Alexander  out  of  countenance  with  her  great 
solemn  black  eyes,  and,  coming  home,  would  mount 
the  kitchen  table,  tie  a  white  napkin  round  her 
throat,  and  repeat  to  the  tickled  servants,  word  for 
word,  the  whole  discourse,  nasal  drawl  and  all,  to 
the  unspeakable  discomposure  of  Lucy.     Sometimes 
she  favored  the  Methodist  chapel,  where  she  sang 
the    loudest    and    most    shockingly    out  of  tune. 
Sometimes  she  appeared  among  the  Episcopal  wor- 
shipers, and  made  eyfts  at  sundry  young  gentlemen 
of  her  acquaintance  over  her  psalm   book  ;  and 
sometimes  she  Mpped^fnainbHgTh^^^ 
wondered  why    they  swung  incense  and  lighted 


fiiiiVij.ia&ii^.iiv^Ji'?  LJ-titi>. 


^^ 


THE  SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD.  29 

candles  in  daytime,  and  rang  little  bells  ;  and  if  the 
Sisters  of  Charit.^,  who  glided  in  like  black  shadows 
with  bowed  heads  and  lowered  veils,  were  really  tiie 
broken-hearted,    romantic   creatures   novels    made 
them  out  tobe. 

So  in  riding,  and  sailing,  and  scampering  over  the 
hills  with  her  dogs,  and  doing  pretty  much  as  she 
hked    m  spite  of  everybody,  Madge  grew  up  to  be 
a  tall  gir    of  sixteen.     The  little  learning  she  had 
Lucy  had   imparted,   for  she  never  would  go   to 
school,   and  for  accomplishments   she  could  dance 
anything  from  a  mazurka  to  a  jig,  piny  the  banjo  to 
perfection,  and  draw  caricatures  of  all  her  friends 
uith  chalk  and  charcoal.     She  had  read  all  ]V[ar- 
ryatts    novels     Lev.r's,    Lover's,   and   all   of   the 
Claude  Duval  "  stamp  she  could  lay  her  hands  on. 
And  nojv  she  is  standing  there  in  the  moonlight 
while  her  photograph  is  being  taken,  staring  at  the 
doptor  out  of  her  great,  black,  dauntless  eyes. 

My  sister  Madge,  Dr.  Stuart,"  Lucy  said,  for 
sHenr^  '''*'    "^"^^^^  ^"'^   displeased,   was 

The  doctor  bowed,  but  Miss  Madge  frankly  held 
out  her  brown  hand  for  him  to  shake 

«  How  do  you  do,  Dr.  Stuart  ?  I  heard  you  were 
here,  anfl  hurried  home  on  that  account." 

"  I  am  honored.  Do  the  birds  of  the  air  carrv 
you  messages,  Miss  Madge  ?  I  only  arrived  half  an 
hour  ago." 

«  Mr.  McPherson  told  me,  and  if  he  is  a  bird  of 

VOUnff  ladv    ffllrinn.  «ff  1,^«  „i l.^ 


X! 


young  lady,  taking  off  her  straw  hat,  and  swinginir 
It  coquettishly  by  the  strings.    Ver^  much  like  I 


,  k-  ii*.^  ^  , }  W4i  • 


30. 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


/ 


sauby  boy  she  looked,,  with  her  shibrt-cropped  hair; 
and  speaking   what  she    had  to/ say  in  a  voice 
decidedly  ^ore  shrill  thain  sweet./ 
"^tlge,"  gently  reprimanded  her  sister. 
^J^g  yoiir  pardon,  Lucy,"  she  said,  with  dancini? 
eyesi    «  I  forgot  you  were  present.     The  Reverend 
^|^:!^*^cPhers()n  is  an'^excellent  man,  and  I  admire 
^im'lsver  so  mucli ;  but  he  ia  exceedingly  like  an  owl, 
Nevertheless.     Sancho,  go  down  to  your  kennel,  sir ! 
it's  time  all  honest  clogs  were  in  bed." 

The  well-trained  hound  got  up  slowly,  shook  him- " 
self,   and   gravely  dWended  the  stairs.     liladame, 
Torwood   looked  at.  him  and  then  at  his  mistress 
with  her  cold,  dark  eyes.  ■>:> 

"You  have  taught  your  dog  what  I  fearyou%ave 
failed  to  learn  yourself,  my  dear— obedience." 

"Oh,"  said  Madge,  carelessly,  "there  is  no  one 
,, alive  to  whom  I  owe  any  obedience  but  sister  Lucy, 
and  I  always  obey  her  when  she  orders  nothing  1 
dislike.    Don't  I,  Lucy  ?" 

Lucy  smiled,  and  put  her  arm  lovingly  around  the 
young  girl's  shoulder.  The  half  sisters  resembled 
each  other  very  little— the  one  so  fair,  so  gentle,  so 
placid,  the  other  so  dark,  so  fiery,  so  restless ;  but 
they  served  admirably  as  foils,  and  made  quite  a 
pretty  picture  standing  together. 
.  "Let  us  go  in,"  said  Madame  Torwood;  "the 
night  air  is  chilly.  Have  you  had  supper,  Paul  ?— 
it  is  time  to  ask." 
"  No,  but  it  is  of  no  consequence." 

"It  i9 of  consequence !     Lucy,  ray  dear,  will  you 

attend  tolt?"  " 

"  I  be^ — -  "  be^an  the  doctor,   but  Lucy  had 


you 


r 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TOI^WOOD. 


31 


flitted  away  already,  and  Madame  Torvvood  led  the , 
way  into  the  house. 

^The  hall  was  long  qjfiH^dark,  with   flooring  ^nd 
wainscoting  of  black   shining  walnut,  very  antique 
and  romantic  no  doubt  to  everybody  but  the  house- 
maids, who,  twice  a  year  at  house-cleaning  timcj^^hact 
to  scrub  it  with  soap,  and  water,  and  furniture  oil, 
until  every   bone  in  their  bodies  ached.     A.  great 
brass  lamp,  qilaint  and  carved,  swinging  from  the- 
ceiling'by  a  brass, chin,  served   to   light  it,^  but  the 
moonlight  only;  lighted  it  now  and  the   doctor  saw 
there  were  two  dot)rs  on   either   side,  and,  at  the 
farther  end,  a  winding  staircasfe,  up  fVtrieh  you  might 
have  driven  a  coach  (ind  four.     There  was  one  oriel 
window  at  this  end  too,  commanding  a  view  of  the 
grounds  in  front,  with  the  misty  hills  rising  away  in 
the  foreground,  end  there  his   observations   ended, 
for  his  lady  mother  had  opened  the  nearest  door  to 
the  left,  and   they  were  ^n  the  drawing-room  of 
,  Torwood  Towers.'  V  '^ 

It  was  a  large  room,  but  every  room  in  the  house 
was    that ;  and  although  the  niouth  was  June  and . 
the  night  warm,  a/wood  fire  burned  on   the  tiled 
hearth,  and  was  very  pfeasant  in  its  chilly  vasth!es^ 
The  furniture  was  modern  enough,  tc^o  modern  for 
the  oak  paneling  and  carved  cejling^ndrnwllioQed- 
windows ;  and  the  Brussels  carpet}  and  ^lt-frariie4 , 
mirrors,  and  chairs  and  sofa  and  fauteuils,  uphoIi<  i 
stered  in  green  velvet,  and  the  inlaid  tables,  and 
freiShly  painted  pictures  by  modern  arti^s   looked 
^ther  out  olkeeping  with  its  somber  gloom.  -Thei^ 


■^4h 


\:     '■ 


Was  a  grand  piano  in  one  corner,  with  a  music  rack 
well  filled  beside  it ;  a  lamp  in  another,  and  a  banjo 


'*t  *     'J 


i 


/" 


i-..i!^¥-**L,  v..   -5.  -ft  jr^.. 


\ 


32 


THE   §ISTERS  OF   TOR  WOOD. 


lying  on  a  lounge;  there  were  flowers  in  vases/ 
canaries  in  gilded  ciigos,  books  and  engravings  scat- 
tered prdfuseiy  on  the  tal)les,  and  some  swinging 
shelves   filled   with  expensively    bound  volumes. 

Madame  Torwood,  with  a  shiver,  drew  up  a  luxu- 
riantly cushioned  rocker  to  the  fire.  "'        .* 

"  It  is  like  a  vault,  this  huge  room !   I  exjiect  to  be  * 
laid  up  with   rheumatic   fever  before   I  am  here  a 
month  !  " 

"A  pleasant  prosj)oct.  l.uckily  3.our  son  is  an 
M.  D.,  and  nothing  will  afTord  him  greater  happiness 
than  prescribing  fpr  you." 

"I  am  obliged  to  you  !  Oh,  'here  is  your  suiv 
per!"  *         \  .  ^ 

A  mulatto   boy  entered,  jbearinW  a  waiter  laden 
with  toast,  cake,  cold  chicken,  and  fegrant  tea.    At 
the  sight  Dr.  Stuart   remembered  lie,  was  hungrv^'^ 
and  took  his  place  before  it  at  once.\  '  ' 

"  Miss  Torwood  must  be  a  mode^  hous^fekeeper 
I  admire  despatch  of  all  things,  particularly  where 
my  eating  is  concerned.  J^fiss  Madge,  won't  you 
fa\sor  me  with  some  music  meanwhile,  as  an  aid  to 
digestion  ?  One  cannot  eat  and  talk,  and  I  am  cer-  ^ 
tain  you  play  like  another  St.  Cecilia.  " 

Madge,  who  had  been  standing  whistling  softly  to 
the  canaries;  faced  round. 

"  Did  St.  Cecilia  play  the  banjo  and  Jewsharp  ?  be- 
cause they  are  the  only  instruments  I  understand.'' 
"I  admire  the  ban  jo,  of  all  things.     Won't  you 
Ivor  us  ?"  ' 

,  "  If  Madame  Torwood  can  stand  anything  so  bar- 
mmsj  I  shall  be  most  happy."  — — ^  —  — ^= 

Madame  Tor  wood,  nestling   back  luxuriously  in 


■js&i 


I  vases^ 

;;;s  scat- 
kvinging 
mes. 
a  luxu- 

Ot  to  1)0 

here  a 

ti  is  an 
ppiness 

ur  SH])- 

f  laden 
la.  ^t 
iungPA% 

keeper, 
where 
't  you 
aid  to 
iin  cer-  ^ 

ftly  to 

p  ?  be- 
tand.'^ 
't  you 

lo  bai*- 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TOR  WOOD. 


33 


isly  in 


the  mcker,  with  half  closed  eyes,  glanced  drowsily 

ypi,^™''  ■"'"''  "'"'"""'  ''"'^''  '■'  "'»"'  "^hes  to  hear 
"Prepare  to  be  enchantwl    then,"  cried  Madee 
«.-ng  her  pretty  bartjo,  and  going  off  inio  one 

that  ««,encbant.ng  inasnuill  «av.   The  girl  plav«I 

Dr.  btuart  s  fastMlious  eai-  was  delighted. 

There  I"  she  crie<l,  giving  the  banjo  a  flourish 

;utint:,t;;i!f''-'^""™p'>-""^'>-" 
Jiviri'ti^tSha^:"!!^^.''"?--- 

hearing  you  aJread3\  "  ^ 

"To  bo  sure   I  sing.     Do'^ 
catcher's  Daughter  J'"' 

"  I  am  afraid  not." 

"  I  do  then ;  and  here  it  is  "  ^^h?. 

sweir'M  ?"  ™'°5  """"■ """  '''Sh,  if  not  partionlarly         • 
sweet,  Madge  set  up  "  The  IJatcatcher's  Daughter  " 
,|run,m,„g  a  lively  aecompanimont  on  h"  ban  »         - 

«»^tcr  m  the  lamphgbt  even  than  in  the  moon's 

"Oh,  Mad^   how  could  you  sintr  th«r#»  v,.o  ♦ 


bad  I  could  do  no  more 
/ 


Come  !  it's  your  turn  now.' ' 


'  -      \.       'i^^^ 


/I'll 


34  THE    SISTERS   OK   TORWOOD. 

"By  all  means,  Miss  Torwood,"  said  the  doctor 
,rS5,"P  "^^^  ^'''^-  ""  I  -  passionately  fond' 
baclf  "^  I  play  so  very  little !  "  Lucy  said,  shrinking 

"  Nonsense  !  you  play  and  sing  ^be/iutif ully,  Lucv. 
bhe  does,  upon  my  word,  Dr.  Stuart." 

Tor' o^.""  ''  ''     '"I  "^  P^^""^  ^'^  >-"'  Mi- 
"  Ves  Lucy,  let  us  hear  you  !  "said  madam,  conde- 
scendingly from  her  throne  in  the  ingle  nook :  "  sinff 
somethmg  for  us-that  is,  if  your  songs  are  not  in 
the  same  line  as  '  The  Ratcatcher's  Dau-liter  ' " 

"  I  kneu^ou  wouldn't  like  it,"  said  M^dge,  coolly  ; 
"but  that's  not  my  fault.  I  didn't  compose  iU 
Ljy,    sing   'AVhistle    and   I'll   come  to  you,   my 

Lucy  lifted  her  shy  eyes  to  the  doctor's,  bendincr 
over  her.  » 

"  I  can  scarcely  sing  anything  but  old  songs !  I  am 
very  unfashionable  and  countrified.  Doctor  " 

"I  delight  in  old  songs  ;  sing  your  sister's  'favorite  ■ 
and  I  will  join  you."  .  ' 

So  they  sang  the  spirited  old  Scotch  ballad  to 
fhoru's'    ''  ^"  ^'"^   •''''"'"^  immediately   in  the 

"I  hope  it  will  be  a  match,"  said  Madame  Tor- 
wood,  looking  complacently  on  from  behind  her  fan 


doctor,  who  luul  uu  excellenrFgfoTce^  ,^g^ 
German  student's  song :  and  Lucy,  coming  ouf of  h^ 


ii'^MMlM-:^-.. 


9 


the 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


Shyness  sane:,  ,in  her  sweet,  low  voice,  "Annie  Laurie" 
at  his  request.      She  might  lr.y,  been  Annie  wie 
herself  and  so  the  doctor  thought   listening  tn  H 
sUvery  tones  of  the  soft  voice,\nd   ooS  at    he' 
drooping  blue  eyes.  .  °         ^ 

"  Her  face  it  is  the  fairest 
That  e'er  the  sun  shone  on  : " 

he  repeated,  as  tile  fafnt  note  died  away.    « I  think 
I  oan  see  Annie  Uurie  non-  f »  "^ 

"  I"  Lucy's  eyes  J "  asked  Madge,  flashinea  sanrv 
glance  oat  of  her  own  black  ones;  "are  you  tal^LI 
hor  photograph  in  your  mind's  ey'e,  Doctor"''     ""^ 

wvia,^.h^ryo^„Ts■'-"^'-*a 
To:itf:^u":or;r"'''"'''""'°"'"'''''"^'^-'' 

8uZt""7"  ^';'f''l8«''""'  gravity  befitting  the 
subject,  "I  went  to  hear  the  Rev  Al»v.„j     ir 

"Bah I"  was  madam's  disffusted  rpf^r.f  u 

jerked  out  her  watch.    "  Elevro^ock  ^'^^  Z 
bell,  Paul— I  want  Fifine."  ^    ^ 

th«^n  ^T^  ''^''^';''  '""^  ^^^"^'  ^^^  Frenoh  maid '  with 
the  black  eyes  an<l  cunninglittle  aprons'  came  in  T 


conveycl.  Dr.  Paul  selected  one  Lra  the  trl!  „? 
bedroom  candlesticks  on  the  table.  J  llgS  U 


■  1^ 


36 


The  sisters  op  torwood. 


for  Miss  Torwood,  who  stood  waiting  to  say  good- 

night. 

"  Pleasant  dreams,  Miss  Torwood,"  he  said,  and 
Lucy  rewarded  him  with  a  gentle  smile  ;  "pleasant 
dreams  to  you  likewise.  Miss  Madge !  " 

"  Oh,  they  will  be  delightful,"  said  Madge,  making 
him  a  sweeping  parting . courtesy ;  "I  shall  dream 
of  you !  " 

"Bold,  forward  minx!"  was  madam's  angry 
criticism,  as  the  black  head  and  the  fair  one  dis- 
appeared ;  "  if  there  is  anything  I  abhor  in  young 
girls,  it  is  pertness." 

"  Good-night,  mother,"  Dr.  Paul  said,  gravely, 
lighting  his  own  candle.  «  Which  is  the  way  to  my 
room  ? "  '^  "" 

"  Fifine  will  ^ow  you,"  said  his  mother :  "  ffood- 
niglit !  " 

All  the  chambers  in  the  house  were  on  the  third 
story.     Dr.  StUart  saw  a  flickering  star  of  light  and 
two  black  skirts  flitting  into  one  of  them  as  he  reached 
the  landing  above,  and  he  passed  on  to  his  own  room 
whistling  "  Annie  Laurie." 

It  was  a  pretty  room  that  which  the  orphan  sisters 
occupied  in  common,  with  one  large  bow  window 
commanding  a  sunny  southern  prospect,  a  charming 
recess  of  a  window,  with  a  cushioned  divan  running 
round  it,  and  curtained  with  white  lace  and  crimson 
damask.  All  its  furniture  was  quaint  and  old- 
fashioned,  the  mahogany  old  as  the  hills  and  thick 
with  eruptions  of  brass-headed  nails;  the  bed,  cur- 
tained and  covered  with  white,  emblematic  of  purity 


and^ll  that  sort  of  thing,  was  Targe  enough  to  have 
held  the  Seven  Sleepers,  and  in  the  queer-looking 


1  / 


A  .  »tk^f-^  .A*-  .  v# 


^.M. 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


37 


mirror  over  the  dressing-table  Lucy  Torwood's  great 
grandmother,  on  the  female  side,  had  looked  on  her 
bridal  night. 

"  Oh,  hoiv  sleepy  I  am  !  »  exclaimed  Madge,  with 
a  terrific  yaAvn,  beginning  rapidly  to  undress;  "I 
am  as  tired  as  if  I  had  been  on  the  treadmill,  an.l 
feel  as  if  I  could  sleep  a  week." 

"  Don't  forget  your  prayers,"  Lucy  interposed 
gently.  .  ^ 

"  Bother !  »  said  Madge,  but  nevertheless  she  went 
down  on  her  knees  for  about  a  minute  and  a  half 
tiien  jumped  out  of  all  her  clothes  at  once,  leaving 
them,  according  to  custom,  in  the  middle  of  the  floor 
dived  into  a  long  white  wrapper,  leaped  into  bed' 
and  nestled  down  among  the  soft  pillows  with  a' 
luxurious  sense  of  intense  sleepiness. 

Lucy  stood  before  the  mirror  combing  out  her 
long,  bright  hair,  looking  thoughtfully  at  her  own 
pretty  face,  when  Madge's  black  head  suddenly 
bobbed  itself  up.  "^ 

"Lucy!" 

"Well,  dear?" 

"  How  do  you  like  Dr.  Stuart  ? " 

"  Very  well." 

"  I  don't,  then.    I   hate  him !  "   very  drowsily 
though,  for  so  energetic  a  declaration.  ' 

"  That's  very  wrong,"  said  Lucv,  placidly,  «  you 
shouldn't  hate  any  one." 

A  pause-Lucy  goes  on  with  her  combing,  and 
Madge  dozes.     Presently  the  black  head  starts  up 


"  Lucy  1 » 
"Well?" 


L'. 


;-„i^„i«.u 


-.f^^i^^Vii 


Sfft 


■'XW 


38 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


"Do  you  think  he's  bandsome ?  " 

"Who?" 

"  Dr.  Stuart." 

"No."  ■  , 

"J^either  do  I.  I  can't  bear  him.  He  look  sat 
you  with  that  hateful  smile,  as  much  as  to  say  *  I 
know  all  about  you,  you  know,  but  I  won't  tell ' 
Oh,  he's  horrid!" 

Another  pause^Lucy  finishes  her  combing,  puts 
all  her  pretty  hair  in  a  little  muslin  cap,  dons  her 
night-dress,  throws  a  shawl  over  'her  shoulders,  and, 
^till  looking  very  thoughtful,  sits  down  by  the 
-  window  in  the  cushioned  recess,  and  Madge  goes  off 
into  another  doze.  Suddenly,  with  a  jerk,  the  black 
head  is  off  the  pillow  once  more." 

"Lucy!" 

"Well— what  now?" 

"I  mean  to  make  him  fall  in  love  with  me  " 
,«Who?" 

«Dr..^tuart:" 

"I  doubt  it." 

"But  I  shall,  though!"  with  a  sleepy  defiance. 
"The  man  hasto  be  born  yet  that  could  resist  me. 
I'll  make  him  fall  in  love  with  me,  and  then  I'll— 

^'•^ "what  the  conqueress  would  do  Lucy  was  not 

destined  to  learn  for  the  closely  cropped  head  here 
fell  back  on  the  pillow,  and  Madge  was  fast  asleep 
at  last. 

Peaceful  and  picturesque,  even  jwetical,  the  oM 

house  and  its  surroundings  looked  in  the  white  June 

moonlight,  itk^tall  trees  waving,  and  the  dim  hills 

-slrattin^  it  in  like  a  green  girdre.    With  a  littlo"" 

smile  on  her  face,  Lucy  Torwood  sat  in  the  broad 


( 


A 


L^**a^«ji 


aW 


l't^%'j?^'^''^'-'T.P?^\  ■ 


1  ^f*kLi      '•%Jiii\taithk-XJU 


^'^"^^ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


39 


window  looking  out  while  tHe  hours  of  tlie  night 
wore  on.  Two  o'clock  struck  senorously  from  the 
hall  clock  below,  and  Madge  awakened  up  from  her 
first  sleep. 

Awakened  to  find  herself  alone,  and  a  white 
figure,  wrapped  in  a  shawl,  still  sitting  in  the  window 
and  still  looking  out.  The  head  was  off  the  pillow 
for  the  fourth  time. 

"Lucy!"  ^  '     >. 

"Yes,  dear."      \     .  "  ..  ' 

"  What  o'clock  is\it  ?  Are  you  going  to  sit  there 
all  night  ?    What  arp  you  about  ? " 

Lucy  got  up  then,  threw  off  the  shawl,  and,  stoo> 
mg,  kissed  the  already  closing  black  eyes. 

"Nothing,"  she  said;  "you  have,  been  dreaming 
with  your  eyes  shut,  my  dear,  and  I  have  been 
dreaming  with  mine  open— that  is  all." 


V 


•U»!.,,«L.i' 


t% 


40 

"       A- 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

coming  events,  etc. 

"Lucy!" 

"At  it  again,  dear?    What  now  ?  " 
"  How  long  have  you  been  up  ?  " 
"  Half  an  hour." 

"  What  time  did  y,ou  come  to  bed  last  night  ? " 
"  I  did  not  go  to  bed  at  all  last  night." 
"  What !  "  '  i- 

*"  Certainly  not— it  was  two  this  morning." 
"My  stars!    And   what  on  earth  were  vou  up 
to?"  ,  "  ^ 

"  Nothing^  I  did  not  feel  sleepy,  and  so  preferred 
sitting  by  the,  window  and  watching  the  moonljght 
to  tossing  restlessly  in  bed.  Do  you  mean  to  be 
there  all  day  %    It  is  after  six." 

It  was  a  pleasant  scene  and  hour— just  the  thing 
for  an  artist,  had  any  eyes  so  sacrilegious  been 
looking  on.  The  morning  sunlight  ^came  brightly 
through  the  open  bo#- window,  and  lay  in  great 
golden  squares  on  the  carpet— with  it  floated  the 
odor  of  the  lilac  trees— purple  and  white— the  scent 
of  sweet  brier^  and  the  matin  hymn  of  numberless 
birds.  I 

Lucy  Torwood,  looking  pretty  and  fresh  in  pkle 
blue  muslin,  ^ith  the  daintiest  of  linen  collars  and 


r 


cuffs,  her  fair! hair  combed  smooth,  and  a  bright 
morning  flush  |  on  her  delicate  cheeks,  stood  before 


•kW    ■'A^  %^ 


I 


1.  ..J 


^M*ifA.  tS   £ 


1 


i^ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


41 


:kmt^' 


the  mirror  putting  the  finishing  touches  to  her 
toilet.  Madge  was  still  nestling  among  the  pillows, 
her  arms  clasped  over  her  head,  and  her  black  eyes 
opening  and  shining  like  two  sable  stars. 

"  It  is  after  six,"  Lucy  repeated,  pulling  out  her 
watch;  "have  you  been  bewitched?  When  did 
six  o'clock  ever  find  our  Madge  in  bed  before  ?  " 

"  Echo  answers,  When  ? "  said  Madge,  rolling 
lazily  out  of  bed  on  the  floor,  and  beginning  with 
the  greatest  deliberation  to  dress.  "  Perhaps  there 
is  a  loadstone  in  the  house.  I  fell  in  love  last  night, 
didn't  I?" 

"  You  are  the  best  judge  of  that  yourself,  my 
dear." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know— I  fall  in  and  out  so  often— 
it's  a  way  I  have.    Look  here,  Lucy,  how  long  is 
Dr.  Stuart  going  to  stay  ? " 
« I  don't  know."  '    - 

"  What  brought  him  h6re,  I  wonder  ?  " 
"  What  a  question  !  To  see  his  mother^  of  course." 
"  I  don't  believe  it.  When  I  ;net  McPher— beg 
pardon,  Lucy— when  I  met  the  Rev.  Alexander 
McPherson  last  evening  in  Torwoodtown,  he  looked 
uncommonly  knowing  when  he  spoke  of  our  visitor, 
and  hinted  something  about  papa's  will  making 
some  one  of  his  four  daughters  over  to  the  doctor. 
The  creature  wouldn't  speak  out  plainly,  but  took 
snuif,  and  waddled  off  on  that  horrid  spavined,  ring- 
boned,  rheumatic  pony  of  his.  What  brought  hii^  to 
Torwood  yesterday,  anyway  ? " 

— **^Madarae  Tor  wood  senTtor  fiim."^ — " 

"What  for?     She  does  not  know  him  from 


Adam." 


»-/ 


-\^l 


42 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


"  No ;  she  sent  for  him  to  riJtid  pa])a's  will." 
"  What  business  had  he  ^  reading  it  ?    What'-S  in 
tiie  will?"  -^  <«► 

"I  don't  know."  /i  '       . 

"  I  should  think  you  had  a  better  right  to  know 
than  old  Solemnity.  Hook  my  dress,  will  vou^ 
W  liy  didn't  you  ask  him  whjvt  was  in  it  ?  He  would 
tell  you  anything." 

"Nonsense I    I  can't  fasten  y^r  dr^ss   if  you 
k6ep_jerking  about  so— be  still."     \ 

Madge  seized  the  hair-brush,  having  no  hair  worth 
speaking  of  to  comb,  and  smoothed  down  her  short 
locks.  • 

'   "  It's,  so  provoking  about  that  will.    Are  we 

never  going  to  hear  it  ?  " 
"  Of  course  we  are ,  when  the  proper  time  comes  " 
"  And  when  will  that  be— doomsday  ? " 
"Not  quite  so  far  off  I  hope-when  Edith  and 

J^  lorence  come."         ^ 

"  Apd  you  have  no  idea  what  the  Rev.  and  so  on 
meant?" 

Something  like  a  flush  rose-and  faded  on  Lucy's 
face-soraethmg  like  a  conscious  smile  lighted  and 
oc^d  on  her  lips. 

• "  I  have  an  idea,  but  never  mind  it.     Don't  trouble 
your  dear  silly  Jittle  head  with  such  solemn  thin^ 
as  wills  ;  you  will  hear  it  all  time  enough." 

"I  hate  waiting,"  said  Madge,  testily,  "and  I'm 
sure  you  know  if  you  only  like  to  tell.  I  Avonder  if 
papa  has  divided  his  money  equally  between  us  four 
sisters.    You  ought  to  get  the  largest  share,  Lucy  • 


tbey-«a^4t  war  srow^mothersfortune^^^^ 


rich." 


\ 


as 


■.t^i'<ijf^lt^   .  •if^ftiZj'vL^'^i^  arf-ri-^4 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


43 


"  So  it  was." 

"  And  our  mother  was  as  poor  as  that  destitute 
fowl,  Job's  turkey,  in  everything  but  beauty.  I 
wish,"  said  Madge,  looking  at  herself  in  the  glass^ 
"  she  had  seen  fit  to  leave  her  youngest  born  a  little 
of  it.  I  don't  see  why  I'm  not  pretty.  When  nature 
was  so  ridiculous  as  to  make  me  a  girl,  she  might  at 
least  have  made  me  a  handsome  one."  , 

"  So  she  migKt— it's  a  great  pity." 
.  "  There's  Florence,  now,"  pursued  Madge,  unheed-* 
ing  Lucy's  laughter  ;-  "  when  she  was  here  two  years 
ago  spending  her  vacation,  everybody  went  wild 
about  her  beauty,  and  she  was  as  proud  herself  as  a 
dog  with  two  tails. '  I  say  it  is  not  fair  that  one  of 
the  family  should  monopolize  all  the  beauty,  und  the 
rest  be  as  plain  as  hedge  fences." 

''  My  dear,"  Lucy  laughed,  «  what  are  you  think- 
ing of  ?  The  rest  are  not  as  plain  as  hedge  fences. 
I  dare  say  Edith  is  pretty,  and  I  am  sure  I  am." 

"  Yes,"  said  Madge,  reflectively,  « you're  good- 
looking,  I  allow ;  and  I  dare  say  I  should  be  too,  only 
I  have  all  the  talent  that  ever  ran  in  the  Torwood 
family,  and  I  have  always  heard  that  beauty  and 
brains  never  go  together.  But  Edith,  she's  pretty, 
is  she  ?    How  did  you  find  that  out  ?  " 

'*  I  have  not  found  it  out ;  I  merely  said  it  was 
likely."        • 

"I  don't  believe  she  is  then ;  I  suspe6t  sheV  as ' 
black  as  the  ace  of  spades  in  that  red-hot  climate. 
You  never  saw  her,  did  you  ?  " 

"  Never."  # 


"  I  should  like  to  see  her  above  all  things, 
will  be  here  shortly,  won't  she?  " 


She 


X"  tfc»'-f^4?5^" 


44 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


"  Madathe  Torwood  expects  her  every  day," 
"  What  a  dilemma  Dr.  Stuart  will  be  in  between 
us  four  nice  girls  !     I  declare  he's  to  be  pitied  I    It  ' 
remin^ds  me  of  a  poor  be\Yilderpd  fly  drowning  in  a 
bowl  of  molasses.     I'm  pretty  sure  he'll  select>ne, 
though,  I'm  such  a  dear  little  tiding  every  way/  I 
don't  see  how  ho  can  help  it",        . 
Lucy  laughed. 

"Little  thing,  antJ  she  as  tall  as  a  Mavpo^e,   ^Seven 
o'clock  positively !     I  should  h^ve  been  clown.-?,tftirV>  / 
half  an  hour  ago."  «, 

Giving  Madge's  short  tresses  1  playful  pull  in 
passing,  Miss  Torwood  tripped  away  "  on  hospitable  ' 
thoughts  intent."  And  Madge,  clapping  her  jaunty 
straw  hat  very  much  on  the  side  of  her  head  and 
sticking  her  hands,  man-fashion,  in  the  pockets  of  her  ' 
short  sacque,  ran  down-stairs,  three  at  a  time,  whis- 
tling shrilly  one  of  her  favorite  airs,  "  The  Fisher's 
Hornpipe."  The  great  front  door  was  wide  open,  and, 
crouching  on  the  upper  step,  awaiting  hei"  9omir^g, 
was  her  large  hound,  Sancho  Panza.  Zif^dge  kooped 
down^nd  gave  him  a  caressing  pat  ori  the  head. 

"  Good-morning,  old  fellow ;  how  do  you  find  your- 
#f  to-day  ?  All  ready  for  your  constitutional,  eh  ? 
Come  on  then." 

If  early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise  have  the  good 
eflFect  that  that  solemn  and  stupid  old  gentleman,  , 
poor  Richard;  says,  Miss  Madge  Torwood  should 
have  been  the  healthiest,  wealthiest,  and  wisest  young 
lady  in  Maryland,  for  that  early  bird,  the  lark,  was 
generally  routed  out  of  his  cozy  nest  at  some  gray 


and  dismal  hour  ofthe  early  morning,  by  her  spring- 
ing from  rock  to  rock,  singing  at  the  top  of  a  paiy 


^WPpPWr 


/'" 


■47^^^  ^i^'u 


,w.*J^^-^^*^av^*?  =r^ 


s.  v/ 


z*^ 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


45 


of  powerful  lungs,  and  Sancho  at  her  heels.'  Healthy, 
she  certainly  was ;  no  one  knew  her  to  be  ill  a  day 
in  her  life ;  wealth  was  rather  more  doubtful— it  de- 
pended altogether  on  thaf* mysterious  will  of  papa's 
—and  wise,  was  most  doubtful  of  all;  her  Avorst 
enemy  could  not  accuse  her  of  wisdom. 

Over  the  rocky  hillsides  she  flew  now,  springing 
from  jag  to  jag  like  a  young  deer,  Avith  the  tune 
still  on  her  lips. 

As  the  clock  in  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Torwood- 
town  struck  the  hour  of  eight,  and  the  calls  of  hunger 
began  to  bo  clamorous,  she  turned  to  retrace  her 
steps  in  the  same  bounding  style,  loudly  (Ranting 
the  fag-end  of  some  old  Scotch  ballad. 

J,     "  Laud's  tlie  larrdck's  note  and  lang, 
Lilting  wildly  up  the  ^len, 
But  still  to  ftie  it  sings  ae  sang, 
_  „^        -  Will  ye  no  conie  back  again." 

"  Yeg,  here  I^m !  "  a  voice  answered,  and  spring- 
ing up  from  the  long  grass  on  which  he  had  been  • 
stretched,  book  in  hand.  Dr.  Stuart  confronted  her. 

"Law  !  "  said  Madge,  "  you  here  ?    Who'd  havo^ 
thought  it  ? " 

"  Any  one  with  common  sense.  Do  you  suppose 
no  one  but  Miss  Madge  Torwt  od  knows  the  benefit 
of  early  rising  ? " 

"  I  don't  pretend  to  have  common  sense ;  it's  a 
thing  I  des]|ise ;  but  if  I  did  p<jssess  it,  I  should 
hope  it  would  teach  me  better  than  lying  down 
lazily  to  read  such  a  morning  as  this.  Look  at  that 
=^kyy^azure  and  gam^^fr  fire,  with4ittk^n  clouds  tOH 


through  it ;  look  at>the  lights  and  shadows  going 
mad  on  the  bay  ;  look  at  these  rosy  clouds  of  laurel 


*.  --, 


■V 


-■^*^L 


C,- 


M 


46 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


:'^- 


climbing,  up  the  rocks.     Oh,  that  I,  were  un  artist  I 
I  couW  paint  a  picture  this  morning  that  would  set 
the  world  on  fire,  or  write  a  poem  which   would 
make  me  famous  for  life." 
"  What,  on  me  ? » 

hungry  i     If  not   I  am,  and  1  am  going  home  to 

Dr.  Stuart  sprang  up,  laughing. 

"'Oh,  Avhat  a  fall  was  there,  my  countrymen!' 

SHiT.r^^-S"^  ''""^  ^'''y  '«  '""«^"«  and  coffee, 
^til  the  difference  IS  not  so  great,  after  all,  for  those 
ic  eal  fellows,  poets,  painters,  authors,  and  artists  of 
all  sorts,  are  quite  as  sensible  of  the  blessings  of 
muffins  and  coffee,  and  the  other  creature  comforts 
land  »         ^'        "'"''^  ^''°''''''  chaw-bacon  in  M»iy. 
"Precious  fools  they  would  be  if  they  weren't 
.  My  belief  IS  that  the  best  part  of  one's  life  is  what 
they  spend  in  sleeping  and  eating.     The  world's  no 
trouble  to  one,  then."  ^"  »  no 

"Trouble!    I  should  think  all  you  knew  of  trouble 
IS  that  It  18  a  word  of  two  syllables." 

"That  shows  how  easily  even  the  wisest  of  men 

rj,^%n ''''''"  '"^^  ^"^^"'  ^^**«' «"  '^^  «™eshe 
had  tteen  talking,  was  bounding  lightly  from  rock 

to  rock,   while  the  tall  doctor  measure^  off  the 

ground  with  tremendous  sweep  of  limb.    « IVe  had 

the  heaviest  sort  of  miseries  in  my  time-silent  sor 

rows  and  all  that  sort  of  thing-till  I  have  pined. 


1  fiffi-irthm  as  a  sheet  of  paper." 


v^ 


^i,.iS^?r_i,-^i^.-. 


^Oi^ 


THK  SISTERS  OF  loRWOOD.  47 

"  So  you  are-almost  transparent !    Mav  I  n.V 

,    how  so  sad  a  state  of  things  came  about  V^'      ""' 

3„.J::!?Xz;::t;— irl^^^^^^^^^^ 

w-ofK  ^^^*^"'  calls  me  a  vessel  nf 

qnentlv  won't  wriio ..  *  '  *''°  conse- 

good  ^f  IX  o'T  T  """•">  """-but  Where's  the 

world  is  all  »  fll  .         ^  <=onclusiorS*iat  this 

«eooid  thoZt  "if  th     m     ""'  ^"""S  ^•^y  "P^" 

gay  S.™:"!  '„d  eS:rLr„"ch'°  t"'^  L*'"^« 
instead  „,  black  stuff  ^a  -3  j  d™'"t  ^T'*' 
there's  anv  relimnn  ■•„      ."""»•    ^  don't  believe 

and  there  is  Lucv  «f  ^hJ7-      ^^^  V>*^>at  the  house, 
t  feel  vor::ituf  ;l!',!  ^"'.!-'-°T  -'■<'°»''  and 


THSaer,  body  and  i^n^'"^"  ^'^ *^ate^aBar 
"Tongh  piokh,g,"  laughsd  Dr.  Stuart,  following 


*■  ■ 


48 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


I  a" 


the  spirited  speaker  of  this  tirade  up  the  wide  stairs 
to  the  dinmg-roorti.  I,ucy  turned  from  the  window 
as  the  pair  came  in. 

«  Good-morning,  Dr.  Stuart ;  I  thought  you  and 
Madge  had  run  away  together.  It  is  half-past 
nme.  * 

«  Sorry  to  have  kept  you  waiting,  Miss  Torwood  • 
but  I  assure  you  we  let  no  grass  grow  under  our 
'  reet.     Ig  my  mother  not  down  ? " 

"Madame  Torwoo<l,  always  breakfirsts  in  her 
roonf,  her  maid  says,  about  half-past  eleven.  I  sup- 
pose she  will  hardly  bo  down  before  luncheon  •  bit 
you  two  must  be  hungry  after  your  long  walk  in 
the  breezy  morning  air,"  ^ 

"We  «..,"  said  Madge,  flinging  her  hat  in  one 
corner  her  sacque  in  another,  and  taking  her  place 
with  alacrity  at  the  table.  "My  performance  is 
always  good,  but  on  the  present  occasion  it  is  going 
to  be  absolutely  terrifying.  Dr.  Stuart,  let  %e  help 
you  to  eggs-try  these  muffins-your  coffee  is  sub- 
hine  th;is  morning,  Lucy-I  told  the  doctor  it  would 

_  "Miss  Torwood  does  everything  well,  I  think" 

Sushed"""'^  ''^'"^  ^'^''^^''  """''   ^"'^^  ^^"^^"'  ^'^"^ 
"Madge  is  such  a  chatterbox;  but  she  does  not 
mean  half  she  says.     Were  you  at  Torwoodtown 
this  morning?"  ' 

"  Not  so  far,"  said  the  doctor ;  "  but  I  should  like* 
to  go  if  you  j;.wo  young  ladies  will  do  me  the  honor 
to  drive  over  with  me." 

_  Lucy  held  up  hw  bufteh  trf  housekeemnlr  Tevi 

and  ^avo  them  a  »hake,  *-   fe       J^    . 


'  najHi 


^'"'"™"  I  '   IllIKi 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  49 

"How  can  you  dream  of  such  a  th in rr  ?     v 
f-get  what  a  bus,  character  I  a,n  ;  lu^ge  Tv^H 

"To  be  sure  I  will,"  said  Madge,  "  but  I  wnn'f 
drive.     I  despise  driving,  and   lea^e   it   fn  , 

Ro..ma„te  will  come  to  grifef  some  d^  by  bre  ,kin^ 
Utle  cra.y,  but  she  goes  positively  wijU  on  hiree. 

"  I  <lon't  mind  risking  „     „-^|^  .       . 
sa..l  Dr.  Stuart  as  they  arose,  ••  but  I  Tel^ Tou 
cannot  jo,„  us,  Miss  Torwood.     Can  you  n.ftlC 

"  Not  possible  ;  besides » 

consider  one  lady  ,^  „,„eh  as  "ny  one  ^enlt,'„ 
can  properly  attend  fe  at  once  •  so  Br  Sh  T  v 
>^^..Lueytoeome.Ires,;etr:;;;^b:gtr'tr 

ti^en'^Lat^T",  7""", '"  ""■■■''  <"•  Be  off 
then -t„.ere'Z  it'llTnet^^  f»  I'lUiT 
^^fave  the  hoy  around  in  a  tnoe."'  ^" 


never  took 


^tep^of  the  outer  stal™,  her  ri^^gXt'tlr" 


^^v3^V-J?xV-^  ^  1 


50  THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 

fn'on^h''^^^''  ^''  ^°°^  riding-skirt  gathered  up 
n  one  hand,  her  whip  flourishing  in  the  other,  while 
V  th  a  critK^al  eye  she  watched  the  sable  groom 

leading  up  the  horse.  ^ 

hni'l^''"''  ?uK  "^^  ^'-  ^*"^^^'  ^^'^^" ail  ^vas  ready, 
holding  out  his  hand,  «  mount."  ^' 

Madge  laid  her  exquisitely-booted  foot  in  his  ex- 
tended palm,  and  sprang  lightly  into  the  saddle. 

Mount  yourself,  now,"  she  said,  tajdpg  up  the 
mns.  "Be  quiet,  Rozinante!  Go^ifcYucT  If 
we  are  not  back  in  a  fortnight  w^HBe  » " 

Lucy,  standing  in  the  doorn-l^flauo-hed  and 
-a tched  them  galloping  off,  and  when  they  were 
quite  out  of  sight,  returned  to  her  domestic "^uTes 
if  any  regret  at  losing  the  glorious  summer  day 
ngered  m  her  breast,  her  placid  face  did  not  show 
I.  and  Madame  Torwood,  coming  down-stairs  at 
lulf-past    welve,  found  her  sitting  at  the  drawin^- 

basket  full  of  gray  cotton  before  her 

"Good  morning,  my  dear,"  she  said,  casting  a 
curious  eye  at  the  unattractive  work.  "  kow  indu^ 
trious  you  are.    What  is  it  all  about « " 

litUeTlu'sf  ""'  ^  '"""^^  ^'^  ''''  "^^^^-^'  -^  a 
"Plain  clothes  for  some  poor  children  in   Tor 
woodtown.    I  cannot  do  fancy  work,  and  I  like  to 
be  busy  at  something." 

"Oh!"    said    madam,    rather    coi^temptuously. 
Where  are  the  rest?"  ^       f  j. 

"l)r    Stuart  and  Madge  have  gone  oui  riding 
and  win  hardly  be.  bade  before  dinner^  ^' 


lucys    eyes  bending  over  her  work,  did  not 


J] 
h 


,^-iti,*i..l  :4,  J- 


.y  ?;. 


:Mi': 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD  jj 

notice  t.,0  fro,™  that  .otUed  darWy  ovor  the  lad^s 

much  better  pleaL  w  v  "'''  ''"™  •"""• 

morning."      ^  "''  ^°"  «"""  »»'  ri<lmg  this 

orI::i;  ^rfc'rif  hef '""  r ''°""'  j'-'-^  -- 

silence  and  the"!:?:  rt';  ,t, -'7«<  ">to 
nothing,  ^nly  she  lifted  her  b[^eevosr  ^1 
surprise,  and  when  she  lowered  them  Z  .?  ">""' 
tinge  on  her  cheek  was  d~ed     ™   '''"  '""  P'"" 

retts,tTiX'Sh::.i:t:tr^"'^'^'''- 

.  hor  twin  cheeks   flnshi    he'  r'"^"'''"""' 

Whole  spirited  face  eLtl'nd' gW^g  rith"l;  '" 

^tood,hatiShS,ir[hrrw:r''"^'''^^"'-"' 

out  LTwL'j'Ct'rr';','"'  """'"''•  p""-^ 

I  gl™  .ontth  ter fniLtt  d'^L^Xr  "I 

""'sCrn'  r?' "'™'  «■"  »«'^t  noX .." 


"  ^'"'  ''''''"'°™''  '»  '^<i7  first  will  come  and 


■  -S, 


■  « 'ikfi.*  ,-iit\.j^  iC'rf*'^ 


v^<- 


S2 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


help  the  other,"  Madge  cried,  as  she  ran  up-stairs, 
and  darted  into  her  own  room. 

Dinner  was  not  so  pleasant  a-  meal  as  breakfast 
had  been,  for  Madame  Torwood  sat  like  a  petrifac- 
tion in  black  satin  and  jewelry,  and  froze  every 
attempt  at  sociability  at  its  dawn.  Eyen  Madge 
was,  fof  the  time  being,  quenched,  and  ate  hei-peas, 
and  carved  her  pastry  with  a  pensive  and  preoccu- 
pied air.  It  was  a  relief  when  the  tiresome  meal 
was  over,  and  the  great  lady  took  to  dozing  ovei^ 
her  crochet. 

Madge  went  out  to  seek  recreation  with  Sancho 
?nd  Rozinante  and  the  gossip  of  the  kitchen ;  Lucy 
resumed  her  seat  at  the  window  and  her  very  plain  ' 
sewing;  and  the  doctor,  drawing  the  ears  of  a 
little  black  and  tan  terrier    through    his  fingers,  * 
sat  thoughtfully  wati;hing  with    half-closed  eyes! 
Through  the  window  at  which  Lucy  sat  he  could 
see  the  dying  day  fading  grayly  out  in  blue  haze, 
the  moon  rising  crimson  and  full,  the  evening  star 
gleaming  in  its  pale  beauty,  and  the  trees  as.  fhey 
murmured  faintly  in  the  low  br.eeze  from  the  bay. 
The  cry  of  the  katy  did  and  whip-poor-will,  plaintive 
and  sweet,  came  floating  through  the  open  casement, 
and  with  it  floated  in  the  eveningi  incense  of  j.-is!    . 
mine,  southern  wood  and  sweet-brier.     Through  the 
ppposite  window  he  could  see  the  blue  sea  creeping 
in  over  the  flat  gray  siiore,  with  a  grayer  sky  over- 
head, and  the  white  sails  of  boats  dotting  it  here 
and  there  like  fallen  snowflakes. 

It  was  .all  very  peaceful  and  very  pretty,  but 
JlQthingjwas  prettier  than  the  quiets  girlish  figure  in 


black  barege,  with  the  fair  hair  combed  smoothly 


it^i  ■^\i,oU. 


*t 


Ji 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD.         .*  53 

off  the  fair  face,  the  blu^  eyes  drooping  o^  her 
work,  the  white  fingers  deftly  plying  the  gli^tenine 
needle,  and  so  Dr.  Stuart  seemed  to  think,  for  j^is 
eyes  wandered  oftener,  and  dwelt  much  longer  at 
that  window  than  at  the  of hfer.  They  had  sal;  quite 
sdent  for  upward  of  half  an  houfi.it  AvartBrdootor^s 
caprice,  perhaps,  and  decidedly  Lucy's  forte,  and  the 
gray  gloaming  was  f asfr  ideepcning  into  misty  ni^^ht 
when  he  leaned  forward  and  spoke.  "" 

"  Have  you  been  in  the  house  all  day «  " 
'f  Yes— all  da^."  ^ 

"Sewing  like 'that?  "\  '  . 

"  Sewing  like  this."     '   . 

"  You  will  kill  yourself.    I  am  a'^do'ctor  and  won't 
allow  it.     Go  instantly,  put  on  your  hat,  and  come 
.   to.theg^denfora  walk." 

She  laughed,blushed,  and  hesitated.  '    ' 

"  Go,"  he  said,  perehiptorily,  "  physicians  are  not 
to  be  refused.  I  intend  taking  you  under  my  sov- 
ereign jurisdiction  and  making  you  go  out  everV  dav 

Go!".       >       ,  0.7        6  jM^y. 

She  dropped  her  work,  but  still  hesitated      A 
dozing  head  was  Hfted  from  a  distant  drm^hair,  and  ' 
a  gracious  voice  struck  in  : 

"Certainly,  my  dear,  go  out  for  0walk.  The 
evening  is  fine,  and  it  will  do  you  good.*^ 

Lucy.aro^  instantly,  took  her  hat,  which  hung  in 
the  h1ill,  and,  followed  by  the  doctor,  went  into  the 
hazir  summer  evening.    They  took  the  road  leading  • 
*  doWn  to  the  water,  and  watched,  as  tljCy'  walked 
J^>  ^"4  <^oyn,  the  children  playing  iatbe^        ^ 


and  the  waves  crawling  up  with  a  duU,  low  roar. 
The  old  l^ouse  and  everythjjig  around  it  loolced 


I,,  vffe;#*. ■;.".: 


'^      -  ..^  -if  . 


L  \V 


N 


54 


THE   SISrURs'op  TORWOOl). 


ieepingwith  its  J  VJtf''^".  l"^'  '^'"^  *» 
»»<!  bared  Ms  head  „  the  cool  ""  °^''  ""^  *"  '"" 
'»  .l«  here,"  be  said"''  C^^^  t"  L""  ''^'^ 
clipnted  spot,  Miss  Lne,-     ,"'''°''  To-vfersis  an  en- 

^  Some  i„^™„,  'jL^i'^-  /„xa'  r  r"-"'""^-" 

tranquil  faceliotly  for  a  mnm^  «if  .Voun^  lady's 

^'ightly  tren,ul„„V  tLuTl  rr't"'  t"  '°''"'  «"^ 
enough.  ^     ''"'  ^"ras  were  trite 

;■  it^  quiet  will'::,  r;s^::  ir" 

"ot  your  t,™  sister  expected  soon  r."'"""^-    ^'^    . 
very  soon  now     FWifj.  ,„ 

■*•'-"- "eforo  the  end  '^he  1?^  '°-"°™"  '' 

friends  in  Now  York     P,iU  i ,       "Hn'with  some 
:;i«^<^*"heS,iftlwn^;;™»--een.» 

"  You  and  „     ^  stranger  to  us  all." 

unliKe   'wiird:es'°F"oT'  ''""'  ""^  ™-^  ""■* 
"Neither"    1,         .^"^■'^''erable?"  - 

«  beauS..     "  "'"'  """  ^■•"■P"-'y ;  "Florence      ^ 
Ho  looked  at  her  with  an  odd  smile 

woo]!ri:M:hi^r:efe;^v:''r'^'^^^-- 

but  i.>  T    T^^'  m  y"  °"«  With  perfect  trntl, . 


a 
ii 


*»a.  iy  fseSt-aj--*  ^.  t^   4  is  v.i.u^ 


THE  SISTERS  OF 


TORWOOD. 


A 


He  broke  sljort  off  •,„,!  l.i  ^^ 

he  work  of  .,es  Ju,,;™    ,  ^  '"  --"«!;  -vai.l.i^g 
look  up  when  I.e  s,w,i„  '    "'v-    We  did  „ot  c^n 
'   t-ov's  face  ,v„s  unS"  '^'"T  ""'  '"'^  ''S'"  ■" 
nJZr:  "'"'""'•  M-^Se  «  a  ^unette  K  which  is 

a- ^^"r'LlX.r^riJi'^t''^^^        -'•  I 
mother's  name."       ^  ^'"'    Cristas,  thtir 

"Edith,  then,  is  dark?" 

T^iz'^SieVrerr"'-"-^-" 

it  always  was  there  when  hf     ,°"'"''  f'":<'^gam  ; 

bed  of  cinnamon  ts^,:",^:r''''^°™«  A 
donbtfm  smile  stillT  m'""","'"^-  ^''^  ">«» 
blown  bud  and  handTit't":  IZl'"  "'""«'  »  '"'"■ 

he  ask^tok;'™  ""'  ""■^"^^  "f  «—  *  •' 
^e^lifratTi^^^^^^^^^^^  "-  I-ucy  «„„. 

4,CtCl  •. nTtrfrpT^  '-T^-  «>«  »>•"■•.- 
green  rines,with  her  do^l^J";;  '"'«  ■^»  and 
action,  the  blush  t,^  afd  a  r^.r'"'  ^'"'  ^"^  ""e 
into  song:  '    ^  *  '''""  ™ie«  broke  out 

^h  fair  in  the  face.  I 

■*l!l;f  !■  «»  k"i«ing  tall 


Of  the  Wind  in  the  tree-tops. 
The  flowers  in  the  glen, 


^-i^P*&. 


„nJa^'\iJ>  s.  J  ^  ^i^JiK, 


56 


%.. 


THfi  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

The  birgis,  the  brown  robin, 
*-      The  \»>^oo(l-dove,  the  wren  ; 
They  talked,  but  their  thoughts 
Were  of  three  little  men. 

The  sea  lay  before  them, 

With  ships  going  by. 
Behind  them  the  hills  shone,  ' 

So  grand  and  so  high, ' 
And  above  them  blue,  beautiful  ' 

Patches  of  sky  I "  ,    • 

Dr.  Stuart  laughed. 

••  They  talked,  but  their  thoughts 
Were  of  three  little  men,  " 

he  quoted.  «  How  much  more  human  nature,  feLaFe 
human  nature,  there  is  in  that  line." 

"  Madge  is  alwap  absurd,"  Lucy  said,  swinging 
her  rose  carelessly  in  her  finger-tips.  « It  is  getting 
late ;  suppose  we  go  in." 

"On  one  condition,  that  you  will  sing  for  me 
agam  these  pleasant  old  ballads  of  yours." 

"They  are  not  worth  listening  to;  but'if  you  wish 
,  It,  with  pleasure." 

Another  pair  of  eyes  watched  them  comin«r  to- 
gether to  the  house,  and  Madame  Torwood,  stan^dinrr 
at  the  wmdow,  smiled  complacently  te  herself 

"  I  shall  succeed;  after  all,"  she  said,  confidently 
to  herself  and  the  window  curtains.  «  Paul  will  n  Jt 
find  it  so  hard  to  comply  with  Judge  Norwood's  last 
will  and  testament,  I  think,  and  my  son  will  be 
master  here." 

The  evening  was  genial  and  homelike.    Lucy  at 
the  piano,  sang ;  Dr.  Stuart  turned  the  leaves  of  her 
-musie;  Madg«  was  absorbed  ma  new  novel,  and  ~ 


jM 


Jfe.!iavt*ii  ,Hk,.^-..i^i 


ting 


■^ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD.  57^ 

Madame  Tor;^ood  dozed  with  one  eye  open,and  drew 
her  own  conclusions.  -^      1      ^    *uurew 

"  Yes  »  she  said  to  her  pillow  that  night,  «  she  is 
an  ,ns,p.d  little  nobody,  with  no  mind  ;  but  she  has 
a  pretty  face  and  Paul  is  onlj^  mortal,  «o  I  think  it  . 
wiU  bo  a  match  alter  all." 


naFe 


me 

I'ish 

to- 


ing   » 


itly 

not 

ast 

be 


at 
ler- 


/ 


A 


nd 


'jfc-:v:*^-i!S. 


Ui^^A^>!ki'f^jJ, 


I 


t 


i  .  ,  i 


58 


THE   SISTERS  OF  toRVvoOD. 


CHAPTER  y. 


II 


-   EDITH. 

:vt;  :tra:^r  frr-^  ^^^^^^^^^^^ 

.■.Jtfr'^  tad  derived  its  ambitious  name  from 
tae  late  Judge  Torwood,  who,  coming  tl.ere  wheH 

.ttle  fishmg  village  after,  himself;  and  as  the  ^ 
l.ab.ta„ts  had  never  taken  the  pains  to  rtchriln  it" 
and  wandering  map-makers  passed  it  o,^  in  <^„h' 

*or  aU  the  wandermg  map-makers'  contemnt   » 
.^^flfflri^ng  littte-pbi,  witlrt^^^^i= 
^Sr  grocery  shops-stores    even  their  a/S^ 


y^-u 


S...^H»'  ^iiffi^liS^^I^^M  4.'ilBto<  .  r/  , 


-..ji,»\^ML   ^w    .v^nK 


!!•. 


I-  V  i  i 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  59 

,      Proprieto.^  dared  not  «ame  them-its  post-office, 
Its  schoo -bouse,  its  lecture-hall,  its  hotel,  and  its 

chSs  '  '''''"'^'''   ^"''   1^-sbyterian 

This  last  establishment,  under  the  ghostly  care 

tJ:^n^\  ^^T"^'''  McPhersQn.  stood  id wa^ 
down  the  stragghng  street,  and  was  a  dreary  look- 
ing ^yooden  edifice,  painted  outside  a  dismal  and 

t^Zu^'^'l'  ''"^''''  ^"^'^^  ^  ^•'•^^^^  Sahara  of 
empty  benches,  with  a  pulpit  like  an  overgrown 
wine-glass.  An  equally  dreary  and  dingy  structure 
was  the  house  adjoining,  with  prim  poplars  in  the 
garden,  and  green  paper  blinds  on  the  sulky  win- 
dows, and  an.inhospitable  front  door  that  never 
stood  open  to  the  summer  air 

Entering  this  front  doOr  you  were  in  a  long  grim 
hal    that  ended  abruptly  in  a  steep  aidrcas^e,^ li^ 
the  hall,  carpetless.     Some  absurd  people  have  a 
ridiculous  fancy  for  adorning  their  entrance  haH 
^mh  pictures  and  statues.     This  particular  one  was 
adorned  with  rows  of  wooden   pegs,  ^ from  whlh 
hung  overcoats,  caps,  hats,  and  umbrdlas,  and  sun 
dry  ot^er  useful  articles  of  wearing  apparel    m«l" 
.ng  the  pjace  serve  for  wardrobe  an^d  3^^^; 
A  brown  door  with  a  brass  knob  was  on  eithefhand 
O  ^ning  the  one  to  th9  left,  you  precipitated  your- 
self  with  exquisite  unexpectedness  into  a  not  over  • 
clean   and    very  hot  kitchen,  where  there  was  an 
odor  of  onions  and  dinner  all  day  long.     Opening 
'!lrJ:^^'",  "g^^'  y-^  ^^^^e  in  thf  parior   rf 
^eptionroom^tliiivving-room    dining-room   and  T 
brary  o    the  mansion,  for  it  was  all  in  o;e     The 
uncarpeted  floor  was  painted  a  jaundiced  ;^ellow 


m- 


;!<&( 


^ 


<^  •..  F  «  '^ij^'  'I  'IT-   '  ""i^^fm^^^wf^'' 


wpwimp 


^ 


60 


THE   SISTEKS   OF   TORWOOD. 


\ 


the  cane-seated  chairs  siv  in  «»«,i 

st'ffly  against  th «  Jf  »^»"^ber,  were  ranged 

;;     since  they  were  chairs  "^  ^*^  ®^®'" 

tl.e,„_bo,.ks  on  lo„R  ro  "    !f  '?'','«''  "T'^''  ■"^■ 
•     shelves.  "  ""•'"   '*l^i"g  on  their 

/.w  <.iseo,!j'gSrtrrj:^/';;*^»teu„ 

■S^^t-ngton    ,„   a  highly  colomi    comote^S^  ' 
«««^ig. uniform,  and  a  big  «i„    ^te^XT' 

uose,  deeply  absorbed  in  fLT"''  '1^^^*««'««  on 

>       :,Thegentlemap   was  near-sighted   an,^H-  « 

^  ,    and  the^type  were  almc«rt^tftee?in7'so  1  jL"''! 

notice  the  approaeh  of  a  visitor  ufk  a  th.^''' 

po^n,anXT*trtat-tat,  o-iven  with  thl  ""f^f^^ 

mess  out  of  his  ph«,v     tj.*„__  ,       "oiseana 


lenness  oqt  of  his  chair.    JJefo^  he  couJd  ^jo  tg 


m 


S'.  .i"'-lJitt'  \    t    I 


■r^r.V 


the;  sisters  of  torwood.         "  6i 
the  door  it  w«»  opened,  «„d  a  slight  g#lish  figure 

black  hat  set  on  one  si,le  of  its  head,  the  short 
back  hajr  streaming  i„  disorder,  the  round,  bori  h 

orehead  the  black  eyes  sparkling,  the  thi^Xk 
f  ce  Ium„,„„s  and  glowing,  stood  in  the  doir^v 
like  a  picture  m  a  frame.  " 

.  "  Oood  inornifli  Mr.  Mm  !  »  the  nel  comer  sai<l 
mashnl,,  treble  voice;  "  here  I  am,  all  alive  l' 
a  bag  of  grasshoppers  !  I've  been  riding  away  out/ 
about  ten  nnles /from  here,  and  comifg  back  / 
struck  me  .t  might  be  near  your  lun^  hour.^ 
I  thought  I  would,  dro^  in^^xKlke^u  a  neir*- 
borlycalK     An;  I  togi^^o  early  ? "  ^ 

son I^L»I^i%^*^^^^^^^''^"^"^        ^r.  Mci>her- 

iSrtifaed  himsMf  with  that  refreshment  when   he 
encountered  the  youngest  Miss  Torwood. 

"  Your  lunch,  of  course." 

l'  I  never  take  lunch." 

'Don't  you?  that's  a  pity.     What  do  you  take 
len  ;  I  suj)pose  you  don't  fast  all  day  ? " 
"1  take  dinner."  *      . 

f~e  r' '      """^  ^"'''"^  ^^  "^"^^  '^'  P^- 

"  Two  o'clock."  .        /' 

"And  it  wants  a  quarter  of  two  now"  said 
Madg^  looMng.  at  her  wateh ;  '*  and  here'  comes 
r:;?/'  ?'-L  '^  i^^  *^«  ^'-^'    That's  beautll 


^d%*8^0rantt^How^syour^eSiS5tisnr 


11 


^i 


»■  r , '. 


-v.) 


^1P^'^P«sekeeper  dropped  a  cpurtesy. 


'lUik~,    !v,iJ3^'i^»-^'. 


62 


THE    SISTERS   OF   TOR  WOOD. 


""  It's  pretty  bad,  Miss  Madge,  thanky.     How's 
>  your  pretty  sister  ? " 

"  Oh,  she's  jolly  !  And  that's  what's  been  tor- 
menting, me  so,  Mr  McPherson  ;  for  the  last  day  or 
two  she's  been  a  great  deal  too  jolly ;  and  if  you 
don't  come  and  look  after  her  shortly',  you're 
dished."  "^ 

Mr.  McPherson  took  snuff  again. 

"I  don't  think  I  quite  understand  what  beino- 
dished  means.  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  explain" 
Miss  Madge?"  or, 

« Why,  it's  as  clear  as  mud.      It  means'  your 
cake's  dough;  that  you're  being  cut  out:  in  short 
that  our  dear  step-brother,  Dr.  Stuart,  is  going  in 
to  win."  ^  •  o      & 

"  Humph ! "  said  Mr.  McPherson,  with  infinite 
composure  ;  "  that  reminds  me,  Miss  Madge— how 
do  you  like  your  new  step-bro^ier  ? " 

''  Dying  about  him.  I  am,  'pon  ray  word.  He's 
all  my  fancy  painted  him,  you  know;  he's  lovely 
he's  divine  ;  but  his  heart  it  is  Miss  Torwood's,  and 
It  nerver  can  be  mine.  That  is,  I'm  dreadfully  afraid 
It  ean't ;  though  what  anybody  can  see  in  her  when 
I'm  to  the  fore  is  more  than  1  can  imagine.  Lucy's 
as  gfcod  a  little  soul  as  ever  lived  ;/but,  then  she's 
as  weak  as  dishwater."  ^  *        ' 

"  A^d  so  Dr.  Stuart  is  attentive  to  her?  Draw 
in  your  chair.  Miss  Madge,  and  partake  of  my  hum- 
ble meal." 

"Taken  the  greatest  shine  to  her  ever  you  saw," 
^^.^ad^  drawings  in  her  chair  promptly  ^^ 
Uplpmg  hei^elT;  "gives  her  rosebuds  and  all  that 
sort  of  tlyn^;  and  when  it  «orae8  to  that  a  man's 


'^J 


A' 


'1 


1   W''/ 
THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  63 

pretty  far  gone.     You  see,  I've  had  no  end  of  ex- 

J^ence  with  the  creatures," 

"  And  your  step-mother  look><m  and  approves,  I 
suppose  ? " 

"  Approve  ! ,  I  guess  so.  She's^s  bland  as  sweet 
oil,  as  sweet  over  it  as  a  Avholo  cai-ti(5^d  of  summer 
cherries.  And  that's  where  the  \^\^zm  comes  in— 
I'll  trouble  you  to  pass  the  beans,  please—the  lady 
is  so  liaughtyi  bristling  with  pride  in  every  pore, 
that  I  am  amazed  she  thinks  anything  less  than  a 
pHncess  good  enough  for  her  Paul— her  only  one  ! 
But  she's  quite  content  with  Lucy  ;  your  humble 
servant  she  wouldn't  touch  with  a  pair  of  tongs." 

"  Is  it  possible  ?  " 

"  Bad  taste,  but  true  as  gospel.  However,  don't 
be  uneasy,  Mr.  McPherson  "  (Mr.  McPherson  all  the 
while  eating  his  dinner  with  the  most  complacent 
of  faces) ;  "  I  am  not  30  sure  that  you  have  lost 
Lucy  after  all.  I  should  like  to  see  her  Mrs.  Mac 
of  all  .things.  She  is  just  the  cut  for  a  minister's 
wife— takes  to  darning  stockings  and  mending  old 
clothes  as  naturally  as  if  she  wcm  one  now.*^ 

"Let  me  help  you  to  some  more  grav}'^.  Miss 
Madge?  And  so  you  think  I  am  not  altogether 
dished  yet  ?  What  are  your  reasons  for  thinking 
so  ?  You  always  have  reasons  for  your  opinions,  I 
know." 

"  To  be  sure ;  I  admire  logic  beyond  everything ; 
and,  then  when  that  uncommon  article,  common- 
sense,  was  being  distributed,  I  came  in  for  about 
dotible^elasnai  shareT  Hy  feSsbWare,  that  there  " 
are  two  more  Miss  Torwoods  coming,  one  this  very 
day,  and  the  other  before  the  end  of  the  week,  and 


a 


■kifw^*^''     tJ'f^  t/x(4ft  ftA  *  M^V '^^^^^   **   " 


«« 


^4  THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 

both  will  be  sure  to  make  a  dead  set  at  him  and 
undermine  Lucy  if  they  can. "  ' 

"  Miss  Madge,  you  are  a  little  severe,  are  you  not  ? 

Do  you  judge  your  sisters  by  yourself  5 "     -^  "  "^^  ^ 

Miss  Madge  laid  down  her  knife  and  fork  and 

looked  with  some  severity  across  the  table  at  her 

"Mr.  McPherson,  I  shall  feel  obliged  to  you  not 
to  insinuate  things.     If  I  wanted  -Dr.  Paul  Stuart  * 
you  don  t  suppose  there  is  anything  living   and' 
.      breathing,  and  existing  in   petticoat!  that^^oul      ^ 
prevent  m.  from  having  him.     Do  you,  sir?    The 
Idea  IS  beneath  contempt.     What  I  mean  to  say  is 
that  two  women  in  one  house^,  and  two  cats  ove^ 
one  mouse,  never  agree ;  and  what  it  is  to  be  with 
four  cats  m  the  housa,  ^nd  only  one  poor,  helpless 
mouse   between   them,  I  dare  not   ima^ne.    Dr 
Stuart  IS  to  be  pitied  ;  for  what  can  he  do  against 
four  young  ladies,  all  badly  in  want  of  husbands  ?  ' 
i  ourself  among  the  number  ?  " 
"  Certainly;  no  girl  ever  reached  the  age  of  four- 
teen  without  wanting  to    be  married.     Oh,  here 
comes  the  stage.     I  wonder  if  there  are  any  pas-    . 
sengers."  -^  "''^     * 

tllfOr^  ceremony.  Miss  Madge  jumped  up  from 
the  table  and  ran  to  the  window.    The  stage-coach 
a  lumbering  old  vehicle,  built  much  upon  ?he  sty/e' 
of  Noah's  ark,  drew  up  before  the  Torwoodto.^ 
Jlotel  with  a  great  clatter  and  commotion     Yes 
there  were  passengers-two,  a  lady  and  a  gentle- 


Z^ 


<f' 


1^1  d!^^?'"  ^  firddenT,y  a  thTck,  bla^ 
veil,  dressed  m  deep  mourning;  the  latter  rather 


:S 


] 
f 

h 

S( 

#^ 
t( 

ai 

di 

ai 


loi 


*" 


:a,--  ^-,-*«, 


i 


and 


<t» 


Z* 


r*' 


,^ 


^  t  THE  SISTERS  OF   TolwoOD.  '    65 

Irvw'^^"/' ""''""'  ^^^^^•^'^^  as  a  Spaniard,  u^ith 

nd  pt:    d'^i^r^^-     '^^^  Mv  took  his'  arm 

MadlT  .,      '"   '"^°   *'^^  ^^«tel  and  out  of 

JVladge  Torwood's  curious  sight. 

*  fi  -T!".'  ^f'*'^  ""'^  ^^°^'  whoever  they  are  and  T 
f^luTr''^^'  folIowingtheirexLpTo.  rle 
ho    ti:^  f;,Tr^^  ^«  ^-  ^^  -il  Ko  near  dinner 

When  ar    r  '"'"  '""^'*  "'"^^""^  ^alf  a  second. 
« n     u   ^         """"'"S:  over  to  Toruood  ?  » 
Can  t  say.     Madame  Torwood  gave  me  a  hinf 
.     to  keep  away  until  sent  for;  had  I  L  be"  er  take 

"  I  wouldn't  if  I  worp,  vm,      t    u     i  1 
flash,  bangmg  the  front  door  after  her  ,L     h 

house  shnnir        T-l.^  .    •  ^^'^   """I    tho 

Won  r  /    ."'""^  '"'^^"^  ^^  «^^^  her  flying 

Tr   "l^  ?^"''"^^»<^^'  her  riding-dross  streaming  in  thf 

r  \?^^  ^"^  ^^"^^°  l^««"J'"g  furiouslv  afte    ht 
^r.  MePherson  gave  his  snuff-box  a  sl.trpl^^^  'r^ 

after  th  '"T'f^  '"^^  P'"^'^^  ^«  oon.pose  his  Lves 
after  the  stimn  at  no-  visit    -mfl  ,v.fV.  •  .  ® 

dawning  „„  Ui.  facet  to'  ZtiTllfTZ  ^™"« 

«nd  I.i,  seat  by  the  .'vin.low  Cn  '*" 

"  A  smart  little  pM  th 


girLthiit,"  was  his  thought,  "and^ 


.        r„» "     *°  ^""""^  ""•»  '"Ok  after  Lucy  before 


^ 


-» 


¥ 


TORWOOD. 

Miss  Ma0ge  Torvvood_^prove{i  berself  a  prophetess 
ill  0ying  it  would  be  near  dinner  hour  when  she 
got  home.  It  Avanted  just  fifteen  minutes  of  that 
important  hour  when  she  fiew  singing  up-stairs,  and 
caitie  bounJcing  into  Lucy's  room,  ciarrying  the  fre§^. 
sea  and  h|Ilside  breezes  in  every  fol^  of  her  flow- 
ing dress.|  Lucy  was  standing  before  the  mirror, 
making  herself  look  pretty  for  dinner,  and  turned 
a  face  as  fresh  as  the  half- brown,  rose  on  her  dress- 
ing-table to  her  wihl,  younger  sister.  It  was  the 
rose  Dr.  Stuart  had  given  her  last  night  in  the  shrub- 
bery, a?fi(t  Madge  pursed  up  her  lips  at  sight  of  it. 
i.  It  was  the  first  time  that  day  she  had  seen  Lucy 
alone,  and  seizing  the  rose  now,  she  began  inhal- 
ing its  fragrance  in  very  loud  and  exaggerated 
sniffs.  '    •  '        • 

"  '  My  love  is  like  the  red,  red  rose  that's  newly 
sprung  in  June ;'  he  is  also  Mike  a  melody  that's 
sweetly  played  in  tune ! '  I  say,  Luc^,  you  and  our 
young  friend,  the  doctor,  ]Mit  in  a  long  stitch  of 
courting  last  night,  didi^'t  you  ?  "     , 

"  Oh  Madge  !  "  Lucy  cried,  her  wliple  face  turn- 
ing  crimson,  and  shocked  beyond  expression  at 
rather  coarse  way  of  stating  things.  Madg^  sat 
down  on  the  edge  of  the  bed,  and  eyed  her  much 
as  a  merciless  dentist  does  a  patient  whose  dquble 
teeth  he  is  Ijound  to  haul  out  in  spite  ot^kny  amount 
of  agony.  ^  /• 

"It  was  very  like  it,  though,  wasn't  it  ?    Did  he 
,  really  make  love  to  you  ?    What  did  he  say  ? " 
"  Qh,  Madge'  how  can  y oa  t " 


"  What  am  I  doing '{  "  sq.id  Madge,  testily.    **  Yott 
might  tell  me,  I  think.    Did  he  say,  *  Belov^  of 


^f 


i.ja**!^ 


m-.. 


:"'*  '^"■ 


M 


■■  -.■^,;»S.'*'#'i''.-- 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


67 


my  soul  ?'— that's  the  way  Lorii  Mortimer  used  to 
put  it  in  that  lachrymose  book,  '  The  Children  of 
the  Abbey.'"  • 

"  Madge,  dress  for  Jdinner-^you'll  be  late,"  Lucy 
said,  trying  to  laugh,  while  her  cheeks  were  scar- 
let.    "  Where  have  you  been  all  day  ?  ''^ 

"Over  ^e  country.  What  were  you  and  the 
doctor  about  ?  Making  eyes  at  each  other  all  the 
morning  ? "  . 

"  Good-by— make  haste— there's  the  five-minutes 
bell,!'  said  Lucy,  moving  precipitately  to  the 
door.  "     " 

"I  saw  Mr.  McPherson  this  morning  and  he's 
going  staring  mad  with  jealousy,"  Madge  called 
after  \\v\\     "  He  consumed  something   less   than  a 

pound  of  snutr  during  the  time  I  was  there,  and " 

but  Lucy  was  down-stairs,  and  out  of  hearing,  so 
Madge  brought  her  little  wofk  of  ficstion  to  an  ab- 
rupt end,  and  began  rapidly  exchanging  the  riding- 

•  habit  of  Amazon  life  for  the  more  subdued  habili- 
ments of  the  dinner-table.  Ten  minutes  suiRced  at 
any  tin]^^  Madge  to  nuike  lier  toilet,  and  at  the 
end  of  tWft  time  she  came  flying  down-stairs,  and 
out  on  the  front  piazza,  where  Madame  Tor\Vood, 
Dr.  Stual't,  and  Lucy  stood.  A  plain  black  buggy, 
bearing  the  inscription,  "  TorwoodtoAvn  Hotel," 
its^Me,  was^  coming  down  the  high-road  betv 
th^P&ls,  while  a  car^|^owfed  laden  with  trunk 
imperials,  vahses,  an^Bnnet-boA  %  lady  and  a 
gentleman  sat  in  the  ^uggj!||fee  gentlema 

-  mustaehed,  and^  foreign-ltH>B|8^r^th&  la.d v 


mourning  and  closely  veiled.    Madge  uttered 
clamatiou  as  she  saw  them : 


tBPB^ 


^ 


M 


OF  TORWOOD. 


Ijieclafe^if  it's  not  the  pair  I  saw  leav- 
'"'"'-'  I  say,  Lucy,  J'U 


't 


\lm^  the  stag«  in  Tomtiodtown. 
"  "^«t  350i|^anythi|^^it'9piith.»     ^ 

.i.ucvV  h«^r  fiad  faded  away,  and  s^e  was 

■■'*%  -^^-^m-  V  f^*^"^^^  ^^  ^^^  watched  the  new 

.^^^^'^iiakit  must'be,"  she  saidp%)ut  who  is  the 
gentleman*? " 

.*^I  never  heard. that  Edith  was  married,"  said 
adge ;  «  but  she  appears  to  be  on  mighty  free  and 
sy  terms  with  his  gentleman.    See  how  confid- 
,J^f^^  ^^^"^  ''''  his^arm,  and  what  a  black-look- 
ii%,whiskerando  he  is,  with  as  much  hair  about  his 
fa<^  as  if  he  were  a  Chimpanzee  monkey."' 
V   >  %  veiled  lady  certainly  did  lean  confidingly  on 
Jier  companion's  arm,  from  fatigue,  perhaps,  for  she 
^/toile^  rather  wearily  up  the  steps.     Madame  Tor- 
/  wood,  very  stately,  in  black  satin,  gold  chain,  and 
diamond  bVooch  advanced  with  the  air  of  a  dow- 
ager auchess,  and  the  dark  gentleman  took  oflF  his 
hat  and  addressed  her. 

"Madame  Torwoo<i,  I  presume  ?  " 

Madame  Torwood  bowed  in  cold  silence. 

"Allow  me  then  to  present  your  step^daughier 
from  Cuba,  Miss  Edith  Torwood." 

It  was  she,  th0n!    Whilst  the  gentleman  spoke 
the  lady  threw  ba<;k  her  veil,  and  they  ^U  saw  t^j^ 
Ihes^cond  Miss  TorwpW  was  not  pretty.     So  jJr 
fafe  ^°d«e^»  that.  Madge's  inward  exclamation  ' 
hal^n,  « How  ugly  she  is ! »  ,but,  then,   Miss^^ 

waj  apt  jo  jump  at  conclusions.    Not  ugly,       . 


[jS  bafcittr  tjnee  piaTjt4ookinf~airpr6u'&-iuuit- 
ith^  saUow  complexion,  a  forehead  so  broad 


c; 


U.        '^M 


iVl^  \ 


A 


\  ■ 


^■-    l^»  ■'^'''''  t^?'''"    t    -^"StS 


, 


•ke  , 

far 
on  ** 


,    0 


[  '        THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWpoD.  '  '  69  - 

and  high  as  to  be  almost  masculine,  arched,  black 
-  brows  shading  a  pair  of  powerful,  dark  gray  eyes 
and  the  characteristic  mouth  of  the  Torwoods-a 
feature  that  was  alike  in  all,  and  was  really  pretty 
though  there  were  certain  firm  and  decided  li nes" 
about  this  young  lady's  that  certainly  were  want- 
ing in  Lucy  and  Madge. 

PH^fr/u'^"''"''''^  ^'"^^  «"^  *^^^  hand^,  and- Miss 
Judith  laid  .her  delicate,  black-kidded  fingers  lightly 
therein,  with  a  steadfast  look  out  of  the  gray  eyes 
but  no  smile  round  ^ler  pretty  mouth.      .  . 

^w"  My  dear,  I  am  glad  to  see  you,  and  to  welcome 
you  to  your  ancestral  home.  These  are  your  sisters, 
Lucy  and  Margaret."  t  ' 

It  is  a  very  vulgar  thing  to  show,  emotion,  or 
make  a  scene  about  anything  in  this  commonplace 
Avorld      Perhaps  the  new  Miss  Torwqod  was  too 
ingh-bred  for  anything  sb  plebeian  as  feeling,  or 
perhaps  her  nature  was  very  undemonstrative,  for 
tlie  kidded  fingers  were  held  out  to  Ludy  and  Mar-  • 
garet  with  the  same  quiet  composure  they  had  been 
given  to  her  step-mother.    Perhaps,  too,  there  was 
nothing  to  wonder  at  in  this  gra^^e  ^uietude-thev 
were  her  sisters,  it  is  true,  but  then  she  had  never 
seen  them  before,  and  very  likely  when  she  left 
Torwood    Towers  would  never  see    tljfem  again. 
Madame  Torwood,  who  had  a  masculine  horror  of 
scenes,  drew  a  long    breath  of  ^relief,  and  really 
began  to  admire    the    new-comer.     But    Madee 
touched  the  black-kidded:  fingers  as  if  they  w^ 


^.„i  u  X         J    1  ~ — ;  ""6^»o  ao  11   huvy  were 

r«d  hot,  and  dropped  them  In  disgust  a  s^ond 
after.  ^ 

"  A  black  iceberg !    Lot's  wife  in  crape  and  silk. 


■5 


^.  h 


7P 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


'IP' 


^nst:^trifL:^>"'^  '■^'^ «"«-.  was  h,. 

patient  V  h.  ^^  '  ^^""eS'ng  her  shoulders  im- 

.SK?:^rhr;ei"'""»r''-'"«'i:e 

•  in  hanA    ^  '  '""'"'^  "'■  ""«  *f?*  ^fanger,  hat 

voLtrs;t^:3:;rt:t^,,^;i.r^».  "<■''-' 

,   H«.an<.  with  a  s^rongt^  ;,' T  ^li't'S"" '"'- 
a  charm  of  its  own  tole?ery  wo^  '  ^""^ 

■   k.ugH^pJ"'"''  """"''"S  the  stranger's  equaUy 
"  My^ber  and  his  werp  fi.^f  ^^     • 
had  not  n,et  since  their  youtt"        T"''  "^ 

.  di  is  wStog  ■"    '^'"'  """  ^'^y  '^'^"'"O  with  us ; 

drew  himself  haughtily™-     T''",  "a^k  stranger 

Edith,,  (e'leadr';:^:  ^^Zj^'^"-     ■ 

^^  the  gr^f^s  •  two  ^^    .    *^f ^.^;?f^  3ame 
&  ay  eyes  ,  two  retJPspots,  like  hot  jets  of 


1: 


\f 


:^ 


•    THE  SISTERS;,OP  t6rwooD,  yj 

bo  thought  Madge,  vnttch  J  her  " 

lowed  t^fee  dining-room,  and  the  restU 

,j.,       "  You  will  dine  with  us  Fdhh  "  t  ^  ■       1 

f  she  came  in  last.      ^1  '  I    ^""^  '°^^^^  ''^'^^ 

'  "No;.idineattheMI     Bp  iJin^     '       , 

.  t,,e™sho.  „eto  „,.^.^:XT*rS 

Vou  are  ver,«B||  ^he  simply  said     «  u  n  ■ 

were  a 'stud! IZdanT'^  '^^  '■°'""'  "■«  ""-'e 

^ootorXsoL-rS^SrtTMl^"^^^ 

■^  proud  as  p^  :T-^z:;^t^z^^:^  ■ 


'•»..\ 


..f 


■■^' 


75 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


(Where  Madge  ever  got  her  similes  was  the  constant 

wonder  of  all  who  heard  her.)    -  Did  you  ever  see 

*%any,body  as  |igly  as  this  new. ^istor  of  ouk^octor ? '* 

Dr.  Stuart  laughed^  fj 

"Mydei^r  Madge,  %ron  says  no  man  till  thirty 

should  know  there  is  an  irgly  woman,  and  I  am  onlv 

twenty-fiv^.     I  have  no  doubt,  when  we  come  to 

know  her,  ishe  will  turn  out  to  be  what  her  sisters 

are— an  angel ! "        '        ^ 

Though  he  spoke  to  Madgelie  was  looking  at  Luc  v 
whose  color  rose  ^d  whose  eves  fell.  Madame  Tor- 
wood  resentf u'Hy  strucl^  in  •. 

"  ^^li  ^^'^^'  Toru-^l,  or  that  youn^  man  im-  ^ 
agmed  tlf as  going  to  ulUum  to  stop  Jere,  they 
were  very  much  mistakenm don't  believe  infilling 
with  young  men  a  house  wher%iere^regirls-I  don't 
consider  it  delicate;  and  .Jfever  4ofty  hotions 
iVliss  Edithi|orwood  may  possess,  a|akwinfind  I  am 
mistress  here."  M| 

Lucy  looked  distressed,  the  doctor  grave,  and 
Madge  carved  her  chicken  in  savage  silence.  It  was 
rather  an  ommous  beginning,  and  Misi?  Edith's  dSnt 
had  been  anything  but  a  suqcess.  ,    .  . 

%    Gopig  up  to  bed  that  night  as  the  clock  struck 
elevep,  Lu^  TotwojkI  stopped  at  Edith's  door,  and 
'softly  tqgribd  the-fiandle.    It  was  not  locked,  for  tiie 
very  good  reason,  perhaps,  that  it  had  no  lock,  and 
Lucy  went  in.    It  was  a  pretty  roorii^ll  pink  silk 
-and  the  bed,  m  a  shadowy  corner,  wa«  draped  with 
rosfe  silk  and  white  lace  curtains.       l 
On  it  lay  Edith  lay  fast  asleep  ;  her  pale  face  looked 
■__Maineyaa^  thc-^bad«d  l»ifipi^t,^6qr^^  long— 
eyelashes  glistened  with  bright  drops,  and  herabun 


^      »/AV«iJ«J_ 


"l^!^ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TO^\yOOD.     '         73 

dance  of  glossy  dapk  brown  hair,  and  the  pillow  on 
which  her  cheek  rested,  were  drenche,d  with  tears. 

feel  after  all.  If  she  but  knew  what  destiny  lies. in 
store  for  her  at  Torwood  Towers,  she  might  well 
weep. 


X- 


M^ 


>  ^^.^IMllkiLu.--  Cltnb^  tJl..„  r 


'^dl^,^    St.^.k 


,  ,^  ^  ja£^<«.*  "^--^ 


74 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


CHAPTER  VL 


AT  THE  GATE. 


Dr.  PaulStuaet,  being  a  medical  man,  understood 
the  benefits  of  early  rising,  and  as  six  chimed  sonro- 
ously  from  the  old  hall  clock,  he  was  leaning  against 
a  huge  cock  down  ont|,o  shore,  smoking  hismeer- 
scljaum,  and  enjoying  the  beauties  of  nature.    The 
sun  had  risen  in  the  bluest  of  summer  skies,  piled 
with  bill6ws  of  translucent  white;  the  sea  lay  as 
smooth  as  a  great  blue-burnished  mirror,  and  boats 
danced  over  it  like  fairy  barks  on  a  fairy  sea.     The 
birds  were  chanting  their  matin  hymns  in  the  woods 
behind  hnn,the  waves  crept  up  to  his  feet  with  a 
low  musical  plash,  and  the  grim'  old  house,  with  all 
Its  eastern  windows  glittering  like  sheets  of  gold 
ay  as  peaceful  a;id  still  as  the  Enchanted  Castle  of 
the  Sleeping  Beauty. 

"  And  that  castle  contains  three  sleeping  beauties  " 
was  Dr.  Stuart's  thought  as  he  eyed  the  blue  smoke 
from  his  pipe  contemplatively.     «  Lucy  the  gentle 
Edith  the  proud,  Madge  the  hoiden  ;  but  Florence' 
the  last,  the  brightest,  the  best,  when  will  you  shine^^ 
out  m-your  brightness  and  eclipse  them  all « "         I 

Alone  as  he  was,  he  laughed  to  himself,  and  the 
laugh  was  echoed  by  some  one  behind  him 


Mt  Edith  Torwooa,  the  Creole,%oming  down,  thj 


m- 


I'  1 


'..V 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


75 


sloping  walk,  with  her  sister's  great  dog,  Sancho 
gambohng  furiously  around    hor.     It    was  at  his 
clumsy  antics  she  wu^  laughing-she  had  not  seen 
Dr^tuart  at  all.     In  the  fresh  morning  air  and  sup- 
shir^  she  looked  far  brighter  and  better  than  she 
had  the  evening  before ;  certainly  she  looked  elegant 
jnd  refined,  a  lady  to  hter  finger  tips.     Her  dress 
was  black  silk,  full  and   flowing,  a  crimson  sacnue 
that  contrasted  well  with  her  dark  face  and  hair,  and 
.on  her  head  a  black  Spanish  hat  of  velvet,  with  a  Ion- 
sable  plume  drooping  over  it,  tipped  with  vivid  scar- 
let.    Around  her  neck  she  wore^  slender  chainlet  of 
gold,  to  which  was  attached  a  jet  cross  encircled   by 
rubies.     AH  black  and  scarlet,  evervthing  about  heV 
dark  and  rich,  she  looked  like  some  tropical  bird 
alighted  down  there  by  mistake,  on  that  Maryland 
shore. 

,  "  Keep  off,  sir,"  she  was  saying,  in  her  sweet,  for- 
eign accented  voice,  laughing,  as  she  shook  the  huge 
paws  off  her  dres^.  "  Get  down,  I  tell  you  !  See  hoV 
you  are  soiling  my  skirt  with  your  dirty  paws.  Ith 
ashamed  of  you."  ' 

'*  Where  is  the  haughty  little  i)rincess  we  had  last 
night,  I  wonder?"  thought  Dr.  Stuart,  still  placidly 
smoking,  and  looking  on,  "  not  this    bright-robed 
laughing  Aurora,  who  rises  with  the  dawn  and  romps 
with  dogs.     I'll  speak  to  her,  I  think  ;  she  does  not 
look  over  formidable,  and  I  flatter  myself  I  am  quite 
as  conversable  a  companion  as  Sancho.     Good-morn- 
ing, Miss  Torwood."  ,       .    °  • 
=S©staFted«p,^0wing  easily  as  thedki^gray  eye§~~ 
fell  on  him  at  last.     Miss  Torwood  ceased  pitting 
Sancho's  rough  head  suddenly,  her  kughing  face 


%^ 


'i 


V 


/ 


^       76  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

darkened  at  once  into  gravity,  and  the  bow  was  re 
turned  very  distantly  and  eol4  indeed.     BuTil'' 
Stuart  was  not  to  be  diseourage<l  by  trifles. 

A  lovely  doming,  is  it  not  ?     J   was  undprfi, 
mistaken  notion  that  I  was  the  only  onel  W,^ 
Towers  who  had  risen  to  enjoy  it ''  • 

''You  belong  to  Torwpod  Towers  ? "  she  said  in 
cold  inquiry.  .   «       ^  ^^^  said,  in 

duIJ^ISr''^;?'  ^^^-     '^^^^  "^'-ted  to  intro-  ^ 
duce  me  last  night,  so  pemitme  to  perform  tl.-t 

^       ^~Lr-^  J7  oMient-Dr.  k^^,^^^ 
tWiought  so,"  Miss  Edith  sairi,  with  a  ,li„i , 
be,d„f  her  proud  head.    "  Come,  go«    dot     h^  , 
wehaveoui^Hvalk?"  .»  fe^"^*  "og,  shall    . 

But  Sancho,  thinking  he   hUd  Escorted    her  f-.r 
enough,  and  that  he  would  leave  the  resit  toZ/ 

,,.    "  Your  escort  has  desortedi!3L'*'n..  o^       .      ., 
6ool?v' rn^i..«;      I-  '''JW'4^'^- Stuart  said, 

#Coollv  replacing  his  meerscfaauttR^etVeeh  his  lin. 
very  unga^lant  of  him  "  ^  ^'P'  ' 

of  su.pr»e,and,-i<oldci'"No  sitthai-v:  ?  '         f^ 

:  have  bee,;  his  Veward.iirn'ilf^L  The""     ^ 
andlooknir  over  ti^n  »h^«      J^^b'^"^^^  in©  locK, 


"'t. 


1/ 


*«' 


whitoai.i]u^.r»,^~:^ Z       ,  *'""«inff,  white  thn    .. 

in  tots  sr 

m  circles  ,twind  him,  sora<«tiAie^  with  that  pecmiar       ' 


.you 


-Tfrr 


■f-^. 


6n«  oi 


>v^,^. 


wt^ 


'Mki.. 


>»• 


'  V^^f.^^, 


'^^p^ffj^ 


V 


.^ 


««' 


■■■*MilMinWitMtlMt,yj«MM»W|^[]|)ga| ' 


,    ,  the;  sisters  of  TORWOOD.  '  77' 

,  mocking^  of  his,  so  roguish  and  so  knowing 
Play.?g  round  his  lips,  sometimes  with  brow  Zk 
ernng  and  contracted,-  But   whether  smiLgo 

unt  LT^'^f  ",^"""'  ™'^"*'"'«"'- «'»'  ™»«^ 

bLk  w   .T'        ^'''*  ""''  '■'^  "eure  coming  slowly 

.       back  ov<ir  the  san.i,,  :,„d  the  same  moment  heard  a 

o  hef  hH  r      ""^'''  '"''°  '"'"'  "«"«■"  like  any 

otrt,^:';:rcr,r"^"«''-''^''--  "^^^ 

less  ,     I  liavo  been  Imnt.ngeveryv,  homfor  y„u  andi 

Tb^doctorlaughd.bUt'Edith  frowned.    Madse    ' 
.,     neodmg  neither,  ran  on :  ,  iiaage, 

i-t^'l'^rf"";'"""'"  "'"'""''' ""»'•"""''  «-"»"=  supposed 
,  ]o  broukfast  at  nine.    When  ,,„„  JH„h  havetlonCn 
tme„ul,™g  oyer  sea-w«Hl  uml  sand-banks"  .^"i 

,       "  .'^"  *'x«.||,<t,l  nation,"  said  IV.  Stuart     "  I  ha*  ' 

„    be, lea.  li  tie  ang^.l  )■„„  „„.,  to  reraiml  me  of  If 

^  Jlave  you  boon  out  tl*  ,„„(»„'%!■•       ^    "'^°'  "■     , 

To  be  sure!    therwlui't  a  ropata  Toni»odlow» 

,  .     Bt,vug  enough  to  hold  S,  in,lo(,.5„^eh  a  Sf' °™ 

.     ''»■■«"' n.ad  a  mey^g,.  for  you,  EA*,.    l'^^^- 

•  •  _.f  ^^:?°"'  '"^  ""^^  untiKevening.^^-  ■. , 


'I  '^^u'  J"''.*''"'  I  «sk*e<'l  him,  an<L/,|  gave  , 
*n,  Jt !,«., black  lopH  and;  „'„ttdld  so^^hi 


11 


'<» 


A' 


4 


In  ^t 


mo 
)Tnething 


«> 


^ 


41 


<* 


r^. 


78 


THE    SISTERS,  OF   TORWOOD. 

Oi-all  the  horrid 


about  being  unavoidably  detained 
men  I  ever  saw " 

A  grimace  finished  the  sentence,  for  tbegray  eyes 
were  flashing  angrily. 

"  Be  good  enougli  to  spar^  your  criticisms  before 
rae,"  she  said,  haughtily,  -  ^n<l  remember  he  is 
>/oyr  cousin  as  well  as  mine." 

"  Well,  I  don't  know  that  he  is  any 'the  better  for 
that,  said  Madge,  who  took  rebuffs  as  coolly  as 
compliments.  "  He's  more  like  a  banished  prince 
or  one  of  those  Italian  chaps  you  see  in  pictures! 
with  cocfeed  hats,  and  cut-away  cloaks,  and  hidden 
daggers,  and  scowling  brows,  than  an  every-day 
(  hristian.  But  perhaps  it's  the  fashion  to  be  black 
and  dismal  in  Cuba-e  very  body  that  I  ever  knew 
from  that  blessed  little  i^l  made  it  a  point  of 
conscience  to  be  sb."  ,/>* 

"How  many  have  yife- known  from  there?" 
Ldith  asked  in  her  cold,  constrained  tones. 

"  Only  two— :>[iss  Edith  and  Mr.  An«n.s  Tor 
wood."  ,      --  " 

"Miss  Edith  and^  Mr.  Angus  are,  e^xceedingly 
obliged  to  yon."       *  ■  '    '    ^ 

"  They  ought  to  be-perhaps  thev  doirt  hear  the 
truth  every(hiy,"  said  Madge,  compWsedlv,  and  Dr. 
Stuart,  half-laughing,  came  to  the  rescue : 

"It  is  of  no  use  being  angry  wifh^  Ma<lge,  Miss 
Mith  ;  she  IS  a  privilegett'charactf^/.  says  and  does 
precisely  what  she  likes,  and  nol^dy^ninds  her 
When  you  know  hSf  better,  you  vfiU  find  out  she 
doesnot^menn  half  she  says.  There  is  Miss  Tor- 
IliitiiA  uuLforus;  she  will  bqgin  to  think 
■"ible  loiterers."  .    ' 


u 


V 


m,' 


<  : 


i 


« 


'I'^E   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD.  79 

Lucy  Stood  on  the  back  piazza,  and  held  up  an  ad- 
monitory finger  as  they  drew  near. 

"  Late  again !    Do  you  know  you  have  kept  bif  ak-  ^ 
fast  waiting  for  a  whole-  hour?     E(hth,  niy  dear*, 
good  morning.     How  ch'd'  you  sleep  last  ni/ht  ?  " 

"  Thank  you,  very  well."  '*    ''  . 

.   They  passed  into  the  diiiing-mom't%ether,  Lucy 
presiding.  ''  ^        j 

"  If  your  coffee  is  Inkewarm,  your  eggs  hard,  and 
your  beefsteak  burned,  good    peopfe,  blame  y^jur- 
selves,  and  not  me  or  Aunt  Polly.     We  did  our  best, 
but  eatables  will  spoil.     Edith,  you  take  nothing.'' 
"lam  doing  very  well,  thank  you,"  said  Edith  ; 
but  she  said  it  absently,  sipping  her  coffee  in  silence'. 
All  through  breakfast  she  was   verv  still,  rather 
thoughtfully  than  in  pride  or  sullenness.     Perhaps 
,   she  was  thinking  of  Dr.  Stuart's  words.     "  Nobody 
mitds  what  Madge  says,"  for  when    th(,>   meal  was 
^ver,  and  that  young  ])erson   standing  at  one  of  the 
twndows,  humming   to  herself  her  favorite  ditty  of 
"  The  Three  Little  Women,"     two  bands  fell  liglitly 
,  ^  her  shoulders,  and  a  sweet  foreign  accented  voice 
spoke  close  to  her  oar. 

"  And  spy^u  don't  like  Cousin  Angus  or  me,  little 
sister?  "  ,  ' 

**  Madge  looked  carelessly  around.  A  smile,  half- 
sad,  half-amused,  lingered  round  tlie  proud  lips,  and 
with  the  blunt  franknessHhat  was  at  once  her  best 
and  most  terrible  trait,  answered  -    ■^      " 

"No."  ;      ^ 

"  And  why  nof,  pray  ?     What.have  we  donp?  " 

tt    T   _  i  ~ ir-7-r  .- E B-I : — — T ■ 


TLols  ortTungsT  Tou  are  both  as  proud  as  Luci- 
fer,\nd  as  sulky  as  bears,  with  sore  heatls.  ^  Nobody 


*/««* 


a 


.r:j4.*-  4;».i>-y 


;-■ 


) 


80 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


dare  handle  either  of  you  without  kid  gloves,  and  I 
hate  all  such  folks  like  poison."  ' 

.    "  Then  you  hate  me  V 

Madge's  answer-  was  a  shrug,  and  the  strong 
gray  eyes  searched  her  fa<je  intently  to  see  whether 
its  frankness  were  real  or  assuined. .  Evidently  she 
concluded  it  was  the  latter,  for  the  bright  smile 
deepened.  ^ 

-  «  Nevertheless,  my  dear,  I  think  /should like  you 
very  much  by  and  by.  I  want  to  talk  to  you  ;  so, 
if  you  have  nothing  better  to  do,  come  up  with  me 
to  my  room." 

«  I  promised  t6  go  to  Torwoodtown  this  morn- 
ing," said  Madge  ;  "  but,  however,  I  can  put  off 
thut,  I  guess,  until  after  lu^eon." 

Edith  put  her  arm  around  her  waist,  and  Dr. 
Stuart,  sitting  in  an  arrim^hair,  apparently  ten 
fathoms  deep  jn  a  magazine,  watched  them  covertly 
as  they  left  the  room. 

They  were  alike,  these  two  sisters,  tall  and  slender, 
both  with  dark  eyes  and  hair,  and  with  a  certain' 
likeness  of  feature,  but  with  this  all  resemblance 
ended.  The  expression  Ava^  entirely  different,  and 
the  deep,  thorfgljlfal  brow,  and  grave^penetrating 
gaze  of  the  elder,  W6re  utterly  lacking  in  the  round, 
boyish  forehead  and  vivacious   black  orbs  of  the     ' 


vounger 


Edith's  room,  when  she  had  entered  it  thejiight 
before,  was  a  pretty  one,  but  fairy  fingers  had  been 
at  work  in  the  interval,  and  it  was  ten  thiies  pret- 
tier now.  The' walls  were  hung  with  lovely  little 
gems  of  pictures,  all  portnnfk  nf 


iBjfcC£oding  beauty. 


^ 


aud  prff  c.     There  wa§  one  of  their  own  mother,  the 


<■  %. 


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^ 


TfiE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  8 1 

second  mistress  of  Toru-ood,  a  dark,  beautiful  face 
looking  earnestly  out  at  you  from  rippling  masses 
of  coal-black  hair,  and  .with  a  striking  reseuiblance 
to  ±.(hth,  m  the  solemn  depths  of  the  uplifted  eyes 
There  ^vas  one  of  Mary  of  Lorraine,  of  Mario  Stuart" 
ot  Josephine,  Jeanne  D'Arc,  and,  last  of  all,  a  por- 
trait of  herself  taken  at  ten  years  old-a  thin,  ^irit- 
ual  little  face  thut^startled  you  with  its  prophecy  of 
wonderful  tilings  to  come.     Volumes  of  engravimrs 
charjpng  escritoires,  inlaid  portfolios,  magnificentlv 
bound  photograph  albums,  half  a  dozen  queer  little 
statuettes-  of  ].eris  and  satyrs,  fans  of  marabou  arfd 
peacock  feathers,  one  open    jewel-Jase^filled   with 
trinkets,  a  greut  i)ile  of  books,  and  dozens  of  other 
l^ickknacks  were  scattered  aboM. 

Madge  opened  her  eyes  and  stared  about  her  in 
giiahd,  careless  surj)rise. 

"Law  !  what  funny  thkgs  !  Have  vou  Aladdin's 
lamp,  Edith,  and  did  you  sit  up  rubbincr  it  all 
niglkl"  ;      ° 

"Sdtexactly,only  I  brought  some  of  my  treas- 
ures with  nw  f^om  C^uba." 

..      "  I  saw  you  had  a  cart-load  of  luggage.     A^at  a    * 
.pretty  face  that  is,  and  what  beautiful  ladies  those  " 
are  uj)  there !     Who's  that  pretty  woman  ^vith  tho  , 
ruffle  and  queer  little  cap  ?  " 
■  ^  ''■Mary  Stuart,  Que^  of  Scotts.'.'        ^^  : 

"  Ah,  poor  thing  !  she  got  her  head  cJSf  ^didn't 
fhe  ?  How  nasty  it  must.  ha\^  been  tdK  queen 
m  those  times.     Who's  the  one  beside  her?  " 

"  Her  mq^ther^  Mary  of  LoWaine.     Do  yn„  Vn^,^ 


— ^ —  "^'-fwt.jiit;.      j/w  Jim  Know 

?^r  ^V?rgusTofW)d  who  won  a  greaSE 


there  w;Ts^  a 

v].cto^y  for  her  once  ?    Ho  was  an  aiicestor  of  our., 


I 

m 


4i'i 
■^3 


'    I 


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.^.Jum^k£»4M»i^a'j'' 


rX: 


/ 


82 


thej|stp:rs  of  torwood. 


And  the  chief  of  the  gf eat  Highland  clan  from  whom 
we  are  descended.  \The  Tor  woods  were  great  peo- 
ple in  those  daj's." 

Though  she  laughed,  her  eyes  had  lighted  proudly ; 
H%  Madge  only  stared  et  the  picture  uncoricefn- 
edly. 

"  W^re  they^?  Who'd  ever  ^hink  it !  I  suppose 
Sir  Angti  was  Jike^'lis  namesake^  another  Black- 
browed,  brigandish-looking  chap,  so  savagely  stuck 
^  nobody  dare  look  at  him.  But  look  here,  where, 
did  you  get  all  these  pretty  things  ?  I  thought  our  - 
Creole  aunt  was  desperately  poor  ? " 

"  She  was  once,  but  she  married  a  rich  planter. 
Come  and  help  me  to  unpack  my  dresses.  I  doh't 
know  where  I  shall  put  half  my  things." 

Unpacking  and  talking,  the  sisters  were  so  busy 
that  the  morning  hours  passed  unheeded,  and  both 
were  astonished  when  Lucy's  smiling  face  looked 
in,  and  Lucy's  sweet  voice  told  them  it  was  luncheon 
hour. 

"  Who'd  have  thought  it,"  said  Madge  ;  "  I  don't 
knotv  where  the  morning  has  gone  to.  I  declare, 
Editl\,- you're  not  half  so  disagreeable  as  you  look." 

"  Madge  !  "  Lucy  cried,  reprovingly,  but  Edith 
only  smiled,  and  the  three  passed  together  jnto  the 
dining-room.   * 

Madame  Jor wood  was  there,  very  digniiied  and 
stately,  in  satin  and  crape  and  jet  ornaments,  and  at 
sight  of  her  and  her  frigid  bow,  Edith  turned  from 
life  to  marble  again. 

Dr.  Btuart  still  sat  where  they  had  left  him  in  the 


iiioi'iiiiig,  as  If  lie  fiiUl  itever  risen  ;  SpTTe^dae  now^ 
m^  took  his  placiB  with  the  rest,  -^ 


V 
t 


I. 


r 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TOR\yOOD.  83 

"Dr.  Stuart  wishes  us  to  go  driving  tljk  after- 
noon," said  Lucy,  "  what  do  you  say,  Edith '^  you 
have  not  seen  much  of  ^orwoodtown." 
^     Edith's  petrified  face  and  cempr^sed  lips  said 
'•  no,"  but  Madge  struck  in  coaxingly : 

"  She   says  yes-don't  you,  Edith?     TorVood- 

town's  splendid,   and   Doctor  Stuart's  driving  is 

something  sublime.     Say  you'll  come."" 

"  I  second  your  petition,"  Dr.  Stuart  struc^k  in  • 

say  yes.  Miss  Edith  ;  nobody  ever  refuses  Madge  " 

"  And  I  never  rebel  against  rightful  authoritv— 

so  yes,  with  pleasure."  ^ 

Immediately  after  dinner  the  young  ladies  hurried 
'  off  to  dress,  and  the  doctor  gave  orders  to  have  the 
old-fashioned  f^ily  chariot  brouglit  round      Lucv 
looking  pretty  and  graceful  in  her  slight  mournino^' 
dress  of  crape,  and  a  white  little  bonnet  with  black 
adorning,  took  the  front  seat  with.  Dr.  Stuart,  at  liis 
particular  request,  and  Madge  and  Edith  took  the 
other  and,  with  madam's  critical  eyes  upon  them 
the  whole  party  drove  oif .     The  mistress  of  Torwood' 
turned  away  from  the  window  with  a  self-satisfied 
little  smile. 

"I  think  it  tHtt-^je  all  right,"  she  said  to  hers«lf 
with  the  summer  s^nbyms  playing  at  her  feet! 

He  chose  Lucy ;  Madg4  is  a  romp,  and  Edith  is  a 
compound  of  pride  an|l  insolence;  what  will  the 
fourth  be  like,  I  wondeif?" 

The  last  crimson  ray  of  sunset  had  faded  out,  and 
the  round  white  moon,  and  her  handmaidens,  tie 


Rtnra,  won  oui  ia  (,ht>ir  silverrlreaury  beTore  the 
party  returned.  Lucy  and  Dr.  Stuart  still  occupied 
the  front  seat, 'but  in  the  back,  between  th6  two 


.  n 


I* 


• 


84 


\' 


<; 


THfcr  SISTERS  OF  NORWOOD. 


girls  Mr.  AngUs  Tor  wood  was  sitting  very  much^t 
his  ease.  ^Madame  Torwood  was  out  on  the  front 
piazza  enjdying  the  moonlight  and  odor  of  the  sleep- 
ing flowers  as  they  all  came  up  the  stairs  together. 
"  How  late  you  are;  it  is  eight  o'clock.  Good- 
-  evening,  Mr.  Torwood.  Have  ypu  dined,  young 
ladies?" 

"  We  had  aii  impromptu  dinner  at  the  hotel,"  said 
her  son,  ''  and  enjoyed  it  amazingly— didn't  we, 
Madge?"     ,- 1^    '  , 

"Speak  for  yourself,"  said   Madge,  resentfully. 

"I  know  the  nyitton  was  raw,  and  the  chicken  aa 

tough  a^if  they  had  come  out  of  the  a(rk,  and  the 

pudding  tbey  gave  us  like  so  much  leaid.^  I  never 

-^expect  to  get  over  the  effects  of  it— ther^ ! " 

"  Lucy,  chil{^"„  said  madam,  suavely,  '"your  dress 
is  thin,  and  you  W4II  catch   cold  in  the  night  air. 
'  pome  in  all  of  you."  "  ^ 

A   Avood  fire  flickered  on  the  hearth,  the   lamp 

burned  brightly  on  the  table,  the  ^  curtains  were 

drawn,  and  the  drawing-room  at  Torwood  Towers 

looked  ^  very/^leashpt  place  just  then.     The  young 

ladies  went  ijway  to  take  off  their  things,  and  when 

\they  came  back  Dr.  Stuart  ahd  Mr.  Arjgus  Torwood 

I  were  deep  in  a  game  of  chess.    Edith  caiie  and  leaned 

over  her  cousin's  shoi^r,  Madge  too^  her  station 

at  the   Doctor's  e|W>W,  while  Lucy  $,nd  Madame 

Torwood  looked  on"- with  interest  from  the  opposite 

side.     With  s^o  many   bright  ^yes  urto\ji  them,  no 

,  wonder  the  young  men  did  their  b^t,  with  knit 

brows  and  u4smiling  faces. 


, 


•  •vT 


"  A  dflawnnSattTeT^^^Etirth  said,  gayly.*,  «  which  is 
to  be  the  conqueror  ? "  ** 


conqueror 


-*•, 


^ 


\ 


■n. 


THE   SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


85 


move 


"  I  am,"  the  <h^oi"  cried,  spring 
he  had  long  planned  ;.  "  checkmatec 

The'^i^hirk  face  of  Angus  flushed  hotly  ;  but  Edith's 
hand  fell  lightly  on  his  shoulder. 

"  Beaten,  but  not  vanquished — try  again  !  A  Tor- 
wood  can  die  but  never  yield ;  isJi't  that  so,  Cousin 

wAngfi^^"  ■       [  ^,A*' 

"  I  shall  play  no  more,"  was  Cousin  Angus*  an- 
swer  ;  "  let  us  hav^e  some  music  instead— play  for  us, 
Edith."  / 

"  An  excellent  idea,"  said  Dr.  Stuart,  sweeping 
the  kings,  queens,  bishops  and  ioastles  together  in  a 
heap.  "  Miss  Edith,  I  am  waiting  to  be  enchanted." 
\  "  You  will  wait  a  long  time/before  I- enchant  you," 
Stiid'Edith,  moving  in  her  prdid  and  carelessSvay  to 
the  piano.    "  What  shall  I  p/ay  for  you,  Angus? 

"  Something  of  Beethovoh's  ;  one  of  those  songs 
ivithout  words  you  plaV  so  Avell."  ^ 

Edith's  Avhite  hands  swe^t  over  the  keys,  a»d  what 
grand,  grateful  tones  the  -instrument  gave  out  to 
her  master  touch  !  Vepr  di^e1*e(Ht-was  it  to  Lucy's 
^school-girl  jingle— solenin  and  sweetj  the  notes  floated- 
throughvthe  room,  making  such  melody  as  the  old  pan- 
eled wans  hjvdn'cver/echoed'befpre.  When  she  rose, 
the  trance  of  silence  that  followed  was  the  best  ap- 
plause-^even  cold  ]S(tadame  Torwood,  was  spellbound. 

'*  Oh,  Edith !  how  well  you  play !  "  was  Luey's 
cry,  and  that  broke  the  spell. 

"  You?  should  h^ar  her  on  the  organ,"  said  Angus, 
looking  proudly  at  her.  "She  is  a  second  St.  Cecilia.'* 
-  .^  [Hiere  i&  im:^hl  ^mrlor   oygati-down^.  ia^^be- 


«: 


V 


i-  ii 


library^''  said  Lucy;  "  it  shall  be  fixed.    It  belonged 
to'your  mother,  Edith." 


% 


86 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


Dr.  Stuart  still  sat  silent ;  hut  Edith,  chancing  to 
glance  his  way,  read  more  admiratio^  iii  his  face 
than  any  words  could  have  expressed.  She  laughed 
and  turned  to  Madge,  who  sat  in  an  extremely  lid- 
gety  condition,  and  had  yawned  fearfully  during  the 
l)erformance.        ,  - 

"  I  suppose  you  were  transported,  too,  Madffe 
How  did  you  like  it  ? " 

«  Oh,  not  at  all  ! "  said  Madgetostily.    «  Anythino. 
more  dismal  I  never  heard  before,  not  even  at  Mv 
McPherson's  meetjng-hQuse.    If  you  had  koi)t  on 
much  longer  I  should  have  been  asleep.     Let's  go 
out ;  it's  a  sin  to  waste  such.good  moonlight." 

"  Yes,  let  us  go  out,"  echoed  Angus,  storting  up; 
"  I  must  be  moving  very  soon  in  the  direction  of  the' 
hotel  or  I  will  be  locked  out.  They  keep  primitive 
hours  over  there,  and  mine  host  has  no  faith  in  latch- 
keys. " 

Lucy  brought  shawls;-  and  all  went  out.  A  strange 
figure  sat  at  the  gate,  a  figure  muffled  fn  a  cloak 
with  the  hood  drawn  far  over  the  head.  It  started 
up  as  they  drew  near,  looming  aloft  so  tall  that  its 
head  seemed  in  the  misty  light  tp  belong  to  a  person 
of  unusual  stature.  It  stood  only  for  a  se^nd,  and 
then  dashed  through  the  shrubbery  into  the  woods, 
and  was  gone,  but  not  before  a  .wild,  shrill  shriek 
cleft  the  still  night  air.  It  came  from  the  lips  of 
Edith,  who  had  sprung  back,  and  stood  with  dis- 
tended eyes,  and  a  face  blanched  as  death. 

"  Good  heavens ! "  Lucy  cried,  pale  and  trembling, 
^what  was    that  dreadful    thing,  ^and  wbai'  aik— 

Edith  ?"  -^--^t  «HiS=^ 

At  the  sound  of  her  name,  Edith  laid  her  hand  on 


u 


/ 


/ 


/ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


87 


U^  her  heart,  as  if  to  still  its  tremulous  tbrobbinLrsfaml 
Jooked  round.    She  must  have  had  wonderful  self- 
^  ontrol,  this  strange  Edith,  for  finding  all  eyes  fixed 
npon  her,  she  forced  a  smile. 

"  It  is  nothing-that  figure  startled  me-a  bogffar 
I  suppose !     Let  us  go  on ! " 

*'  A  beggar,"  thought  Dr.  Stuart,  following  slowly 
with  Lucy.     «  No,  Miss  Edith,  that  was  no  beggar 
nor  are  you  a  young  lady  to  go  into  hysterics  for  all 
thQ  beggars  in  Maryland.    There  is  something  odd 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STMET 

WEBSTER.  N.Y.  14580 

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88 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


j<!Se 


CHAPTEK  TIL  ' 

'.^  florence. 

«  Paul  ! " 

"  Yes,  mother." 

There  was  an  old  elm,  with  long  green  arms,  out 
in  the  grounds,  with  a  bench  invitingly  beneath  its 
shade.  On  this  bench  Dr.  Stuart  lazily  reclined 
reading,  out  of  the  way  of  the  morninjy^  sunshine,  and 
here  his  lady  mother,  wandering  listlessly  through 
the  shrubbery,  found  him. 

"  I  have  been  searching  for  you  everywhere,  and 
fancied  you  had  been  carried  off  again  by  that  rude 
creature,  Madge." 

"  Allay  your  fears,  then,  my  good  mother— your 
son  is  safe."  / 

"  Paul,  I  want  to  talk  with  you.'l 

"  I  am  all  attention." 

"  You  were  out  very  late  last  evening." 

"Is  that  what  you  want  to  say?*  It  was  eleven 
o'clock,-  if  you  call  that  late." 

"  It  was  late  under  the  circumstances.  You  Avere 
with  Miss  Torwood,  were  you  nat  ? " 

"  With  three  of  them,*  madam." 

"  Nonsense !  Edith  Avas  with  her  cousin,  ,and 
Madge  hati  her  dog— the  companion  that  suits  her 
best.     You  were  Avith  Lucy." , 


t         « 


"Sol  was— you  are right.^' 


-V 


ler 


THE  SISTI^RS  01?:  TORWOOD.      "  89 

r.l  T'"''  '^■''f  „''''  ^^^  ^^  ^^^^'""S  to  ber,  after  the 
rest  came  in  ? "  " 

"Did  I?    Let  me  see.    Ob,  so  I  did." 

"  AVhat  did  you  say  to  her  'i  " 

"Several  things.  AVhat's  this  they  were?"  said 
the  doctor   0  osmg  his  book  and  looking  reflective. 

ires,  I  think  I  remarked  that  the  night  was  beau- 
titul  and  Lucy  responded  'lovely '-a  style  of  re- 
mark to  which,  I  flatter  myself,  no  exceptions  could 
be  taken  except  on  the  score  of  originality  "' 

'Bah !  I  want  you  to  talk  sense.  How  do  you 
like  Miss  Torwood  ? "  .      -^   " 

/  "Exceedingly.  You  haven't  got  such  a  thing  as 
[a  matcluibout  you,  have  you?  I  should  like  to  itht 
a  cigar."    ^^  » 

Madame  Torwood  frowned  a  little,  but  kept  on  • 

u  ir    ^"""^  ''''^  ^'^''  ^''''^^  ^"^"^^^  *«  '"«rry  her?" 
My  de{^r  mother,  spare  my  blushes.    How  can 
yo)i  ask  such  dreadful  point-blank  questions  ? » 
"Answer  it." 

«  Certainly  I  do,  then.    I  only  wish  I  could  marry 
every  young  lady  in  the  world.  I  assure  yoii^  should    ' 
make  them  all  happy  in  no  time."  • 

II  You  like  her  better  than  Edith, of  course «" 
inde^!"^"*''^  '"  '  ""'^  charming  young  person, 

"  And  better  than  Madge  ? "  ^     ^ 

"  Miss  Madge  is  delightful." 

"  You  know,  Paul,"  madam  said,  lowering  her 

voice  confidentially,  "you  couldn't  have  Edith  even 

IL^"  ;;^'^^^.>  ^"^  I  am  very  glad  of  it,  for  a  more 

impel  tment  piece  of  pride  T  never  saw  in  my  life '^"^ 

Are  you  not  a  little  severe?    Here,  take  a  seat 


■m 


m 


90       .         THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


^^iSf!!"?,""'     ^""'^  '^""^y  '^''"^'^  ^  ^«t  ^^^v<^  her  if  I 

"Bedause,"  still  more  confidentially,  "  I  think  she 
IS  m  love  with  her  cousin." 

"  Oh  "  said  Dr.  St,uart,  and  he  laughed  that  pecu- 
liar and  most  doubtful  laugh  of  Ills';      . 

"WelL"  said  his  mother,  irritated  by  the  sound 
and  w^at  are  you  laughing  at  ? "       *  - 

have^"''  f ''*^^'"°~''^'^'^  »"^°^l  n^e !    Only  a  notio«  J 

r  Whdt  is  it  t   Doja't  you  agr^e  with  me  ? » 
"Not  Exactly."  ; 

"  Do  y^u  mean  to  say  you  think  I  am  mistaken «  " 

If  yoh  will  permit  me  to  say  so." 
"  Paulj  are  you  blind  or  stupid  ?    I  tell  you  I  am 
right."    (  ^  I  u 

"Perhaps  so;  I  merely  fancied  y^^versed  the 


^1  y|Mfrv 
.1 


case. 
"How?" 

"  WhyXthought  L  was  in  lovf  Vith  her,  instead 
*  of  the  w^y  you  ^afcip' 
"  It  is  jihe  samib  th^'ng."-. 

"Indeed !    I  4d  not  know  that.     So  you  think  I 
stand  no  chance  a^ajtist  cousin  Angus  ?" 

"  Paul  I  detesi  the  tone  you  talk  in.     One  cannot 
>o  sure  whether  ton  are  in  jest  or  earnest,  and  you 
know  thi*  is^io  liughing  matter." 

"  Very-Tar  f  ro4i  it.     It  is  growing  to  be  the  most 
desperately  seritiis  matter  of  my  life." 
"  I  don't  unde^tand." 

"  No,  I  suppo^  not.    Never  mind,  though  ;  I  dare 
say  you  will  soirip  dny." 


"Edith  being  out  of  the  question,  then  Lucy?only 


r'. 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  91 

remains;  for,  of  course,  that  overgrown  child  and 
rfide  romp,  Madge,  is  not  for  a  moment  to  be  thought 
^    of."       9 

**  As  a  wife  for  me— no.  I  think  not,  for  many 
reasons— first  and  chief  among  tiiem  being,  that  slie 
wouldn't  have  me." 

"  I  dare  say  she  is  enough  of  a  simpleton  to  refuse 
gold  for  pitiful  tinsel.     Lucy  then  only  remains." 

"Ah!  f  thought  there  was  another-^-what  is  this 
you  called  her  ?    Florence,  wasn't  it  ? " 

"To be  sure!  Yes,  L quite  forgot  Florence!  and 
they  say  she  is  very  pretty,  jtoo!"  '  ^p 

The  doubtful  smile,  roguish  and  knowing,  was  on 
t^fi  doctor's^face  again— perhaps  at  his  mother's 
deeply  thoughtful  and  musing  tone. 

"And  young  men  are  all  slaves  of  their  eyes. 
Well,  i  don't  know  her,  of  course,  but  she  ought  to  be 
here  to-day,  and  th^n— but,  Paul,  do  tell  me,  you  may 
tell  your  mother,  you  know— what  do  you  think  of 
Lucy  ? " 

"  I  think  her,"  said  the  doctor,  lounging  more  com- 
fortably on  the  bench,  "a  most  estimable  young  lady, 
very  nice  looking,  et  cetera,  and  the  best  housekeeper 
in  existence." 

"  Bah !.  I  don't  mean  that.  -  In  plain  English,  will 
you  marry  her  ? " 

Dr.  Stuart  made  a  slight  grimace,  but  ended  in  a 
laugh.  '     - 

"  Really,  Madame  Torwood,  you  are  the  most  ter- 
rible inquisitor  I  ever  met  with.  You  hit  the  nail  on 
the  head  at  once." 


"  Paul,  will  you  marry  her  ? " 
Pr.  Paul  started  up. 


'■■'■/■ 


1 
I 


92  THK   SJSTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 

"Be  easy  good  Mother,  and  I  will  tell  vou  a  secret 
-If  ever  I  do  marry,  my  wife  will  be  one  of  Judge  ' 
lorwood  s  daughters,  rest  assured  of  that  " 
"  Will  it  be  Lucy  ?  "  ' 

There  was  a  clatter  of  horse's  hoofs,  the  low  bark- 
ing of  a  dog,  a  shrill  treble  voice  shouting  good-bv  to 
some  one  else,  and  then^fadge  TorwoodMne  dash! 
ing  down  the  a^nue,  mounted   on  Rozinante,  ^Vith 
SanchoPanza  at  his  heels.     Madge  al  ways  look;d  her 
boston  horseback-she  looked  her  best  now  her  thin 
cheosm.sl.d,  her   black  eyes  blazing  with  hf^  1' a 
si^rit,],er  jaunty  rub ng-hat  perched  saucily  on  one 
sidfe  of  her  shingled  head,  her  dark  green  ridin^ 
habit  htting  her  tall  slim  figure  to  ,>erfoction.      She 
lifted  iier  hat  tike  a  jaunty  little  cavalier  to  the  ladv 
as  she  passed.  -^ 

doctor,  from  the  novel  he  was  reading. 

''  To  Torwoodtown,  and  I  am  going  to  fetch  spipe- 
body  back  to  dinner."  K    ' 

"Who?"  ^     i 

"  Mr  McPherson  ;  he  has  been  too  long  away,  and 
I  want  hun  to  come  and  look  after  a  piece  of  his 
property  he  is  in  danger  of  losing.  By-by  Get 
along,  Rozinante!"  ^      ^    ^'        ''^. 

MVhatdoes  she  mean?"  madam  asked,  frown- 


ing 


"  Quie7i  sale  ?  "  replied  th^  doctor.     «  The  Sphinx 
IS  plam  reading  compared  with  that  damsel.     Have 
you  anything  more  to  say  to  me,  mother,  because  f 
am  going  to  smoke  ?    But  don't  hurry  yourself  on 
_my  account,  I  beg." 


"^^cf  while  Madame  Tonvood,  takmg  this  delicate 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TOKVVOOD. 


93 


hint,  moved  away  with  an  expressive  shrug,  and  ])r 
Stuart,  lymg  at  full  length  on  his  bench,  solaced' 
Jnuiself  with  cigar^  and  fiction,  Madge  wasgallopin- 
OA^er  the  mountain  road,  Iw^tween  the  Towers  and 
tl^etown.     She  had  almost  reached  her  destination 
Vap4  was  uroing  Rozinante,  who,  fr.mi  some  cause 
best  known  to  himself,  seemed  disinclined  for  exer- 
tion that  morning  up  hill,  when  the  animal  stumbled 
iind  nearly  fell,  stopping  short  with  a  whinfeof  pain 
"  AVhy,  llozinnnte,  old  fellow,  what  is  the  matter  ? " 
exclaimed  Madge,  very  much  astonished  at  this  un- 
usual behavior  on  the  i)artof  her  gentlemanly  steed. 
'  What  the  mischiefs  wrong  with  you,  I  want  to 
know  ? " 

"Your  horse  has  lamed  himself,  I  think,"  said  a 
quiet  voice  near  hor ;  and,  looking  round,  the  vonn.r 
lady  saw  a  figure  lying. on  the  grass,  on  whom  tlij 
cares  of  life  and  a  green  shooting-jacket  appeared  to 
sit  easily.  A  brown  straw  hat  was  pulled  over  his 
face,  a  gun  and  an  empty  game  bag  lay  on  one  side 
ot  him,  and  a  shaggy  Newfoundland  crouched  on 
the  other.  This  latter  got  up  with  a  deeply  bass 
growl  of  sight  of  Sancho,  who  returned  the  growl 
with  compound  interest,  and  stared  hard  at  the  in- 
truder. 

"Make  your  dog  let  ifeine  alone,"  ordered  impe- 
rious Madge.     «  Sancho  !  hold  your  tongue,  sir." 

"  Down,  Faust !  "  said  the  gentleman,  still'without 
getting  up.  «  You  will  have  to  dismount,  youn- 
lad}-,  I  am  afraid.  Permit  me  to  assist  you."'  '' 
„J^e  sprang  up  at  last,  set  Jiis  hat  properly,  and^ 
heldljut  his  hand.  Madge  eyed  him  beforeshe  took 
It,  and  set  him  down  for  about  the  best  looking 


9h 


THE   SISTKKS  OF   TOKVVOOD. . 


specimen  of.  h,s  agjc  she  had  viewed  for  some  time 
He  might  have  bee'n  three^and-twenty,  certainly  not 
more,  slender  and  boyish  of  figure,  with  large.C 
handsoine  brown  eyes,  a  prof useness  of  most  des  rab  e 
curling  black  .hair,  a  thick  black  mustache  " 
perfection  i„  its  way,  features  regular  and  cl    s 
enough  for  some  old  Grecian  statue,  hands  and  f^et 
like  a  lady  s,  and  carrying  a  sort  of  easy,  off-hand 
air  about  him  that  became  him  well.     Though  h"s 

seet?r'"'r'"'  ''"™^"  enough,  you  could 
see  at  a  glance  he  was  agentleman-his  voice  alone 

1  tk   anr^^^^^^  '"■''^  '^""^'^  those  mod"- 

^  a^  refined  accents  that  can  only  come  from 

As  Madge  continued  to  sit  and  stare  at  him  he 
took  off  his  hat  and  made  her  a  courtly  bow       ' 

Mademoiselle  eyes  me  gravely.     I  hope  I  meet 
lier  approbation."  ■  "Pe  i  meet 

power  to  discompose,  "you  started  up  from  the 
earth  so  suddenly,  that  I  was  not  sure^I  ha^  not 
come  face  to  face  with  a  genie  out  of  the  *  Arabian 
^  ights,'  and  wanted  to  make  sure.  Are  you  certain 
you  have  not  enchanted  my  hoi-se «  "        \ 

"Not  to  my  knowledge!     T  would  much  rather 
encnant  his  charming  rider— if  I  could  " 

on^u^^H  f^-  ""^^  ^^  *^^^^  ^^^  ^^^»«e,  because  you 

Just  look  at  Roz^ante's  foot,  will  you,  and  see  if  he 
can  carry  me  to  Torwoodtown." 

The  young  gentleman  obeyed  this  cool  request 
^^^—Jozina^^ 


J 


THE   SISTERS   OK   TORVVOOD. 


95 


/i 


^ 


;."raear  not;  J,e  has  lamed  liimself  rather  seri- 
ously. You  had  better  dismount,  and  I  will  lead  him 
lor  you.  ' 

h,ni'^^  T^'T'/-  f "'  ^^"^'^"'  "^^"^  ^'  proffered 
hand  rather  di^damfully,  and  springing  lightly,  out 
.  of  the  saddle;  "  but  I'll  not  trouble  y<iu  to  lead  him 
as  I  can  do  that  myself.     Poor  Rozinanto  !  poor  fel^ 
low  !  how  did  it  happen,  I  wonder  ? " 

As  Madge  examined  the  animal's  afflictea  foot 
with  a  face  full  of  concern,  the  young  man  threw 
bimself  on  the  grass  again. 

"Don't  go  yet!     You  and  Rozinante  are  tired- 

Jlontsayno,  I'm  sure  you  are-and  I  want  some- 

bo,ly  to  talk  to.     You,  o-we  me  something  anyway 

lor  hnding  out-he  wt^^lanie."  ^       j      j 

''  Do  I  ?     And  what  payment  do  you  want  'i  " 

.  1  he  pleasure  of  your  company  for  half  an  hour 

-1  must  be  gomg  by  the  end  of  that  time.     Here's 

a  soft  rock,  sit  down  jind  say  something '  'Mx 

"Well,  you  are  cool!"  said   Madge,  cj^ng  a 

ong  breath  and  staring  at  him  ;  «  it> Refreshing  to 

listen  to  you.     What  dpes  your  serene'Whness  wish 

me  to  say  ? "  7^  " 

"  Anything  you  please.     I  am  sure  all  your  re- 
marks will  be  delightful ! " 

"  I'm  obliged  to  you  !     To  begin,  then,  who  are 

you  ? " 

God^  ^''''^^'''"^°   ^^  courtesy   and  the  grace  of 

"I  should  never  suspect  you  had  any  of  that  last 
about  you!     You  have  a  name,  haven't  you  ?    Wh-it 


"  A  very  pretty  one— St.  Leon.". 


i  m 


96  ,THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 

"  Stuflf !  that  sounds  too  much  like  the  hero  of 
a  three-volume  novel.  Are  you  sure  it's  not  Robin- 
son or  Brown  ? " 

"  Thank  goodness,  yes !  " 
"And  your  name's  really  St.  Leon?" 
"  It  really  is,  incredible  as  it  sounds." 
■"  What  else  ?    People  generally  have  Uvo  names." 
So  they  have!    Tou  won't  faint  when  I  tell 
you?" 

.,       "I'll  try  not  to." 

/        It's  Giaccomo,  then." 

Madge  whistled.  -     ,     , 

«  Giaccoijio  St.  Leon  !^  there's  a  nice  name  to  talk 
about !     Are  you  a  foreigner  ?  "  ^  .   -^ 

"Not  to  my  Knowledge;  not"  if  birth  in  a  iew 
England  village  and  of  a  New  England  mother  does 
not  make  me  so." 

;     "  How  did  you  have  the  misfortune  to  get  such 
an  outlandish  name,  then  ? " 

"Because  I  chanced  to  f>ossess  a  foreign  father 
who  first  opened  his  eyes  on  tbe  bairks  of  the  Gua- 
dalquiver,  and  closed  them  on  those  of  the  Connecti- 
cut." 

"Oh  that's  the. way,  is  it?  You're  a  stranger 
here,  of  course  ?  "  ^     ' 

'{Never  set  foot  in  Maryland  until  this  morn- 
ing." 

"  What  brought  you  to  Torwoodtown  ? " 

"  You  never  would  guess."  ^ 

*^^No,  I'm  not  a  Yankee.    To  eScape  the  sheriff 
perhaps."  ' 

"  Not  exactly !    I'm  in  search  of  a  wife." 


Indeed !    You  have  just  come  to  the  right^I^^ 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD,  9; 

then  I  Young  ladies-such  nice  ones;  too  t-are  a« 
Plent,fu  here  as  Wuckberri.^  in  sea'son  Forin^ 
st^anc^,  there  are  three  or  f5ur  over  there  ia-Vne 

theyT' ''  ""  ^''''^^''  "'''  ^^^^  ^''"^^  ^''     ^^^^«  «'-^ 

«  Torwood's  the  name-four  M is^^'  Torwood." 

1  have  heard  the  name  before,  I  think     One 

came  here  recently,  didn't  si,,?    A  U  dark  giH- 

not  bad  looking  ?  "  4^^'Ixk  giu— 

;;  Why,  that's  Edith  ;  did  you  know  her^  » 

blightly," 
"Where?"  '   * 

/'  I  met  her  in  Cuba,  I  think." 
"Oh,  it's  the  very  same;  she  has  just  come\om 
Cul^a     I  suppose  you  mean  to  call  aiid  see  her?"     ' 

Do  vo.Th     iT?  f  ^,V  ^""^''^  ""^"*^^"'  wouldn't  It?  - 
Vo  you  think  I  had  better  ?  " 

"  Decidedly !  it  would   be  bad  manners  to  stav^ 
away ;  and  I  hate  bad  manners.     Call,  by  all  meant^ 

^y^f^  l"^  J/^"  ^""y  '  ^»t  i«  it  not  like  entering 
a  lion's  den  ?  |»t  not  walking  with  one's  eyes  opef 
into  a  bottomlls^  gulf  o^anger  ?  Four  beautff u" 
young  ladies-just  think  of  it !  What  is  to  becoihe 
of  me  among  them  all  ? "  "^^ome 

JZ^^u""^'.  ^'  ''  ^  ^''^"^"^5  ^°d  though  you 
^^i^A^  ^vlthstand  the  rest-on  the  same  princfple 
that  pigs^^t^rA^  fly,  though  they're  unlikely  birds- 

neverT'  ''"''  """'^  '"*  "^'^"''  '^'  youngest- 
"  Is  she  so^very  nice,  then  ? " 


*Ni<»I    That  is  a  pretty  wont  to  apply  to^dSe 
Torwoo<l  I    Tou  might  as  well  say  the  sun  at  noo? 


#^' 


V     "•- 


98  'XiiJ^iflSTERS  Ot;  TORWOOD. 

<lay,  or  a  flusi,  of  iigbtnWg,  „1=  „  brt-,1  of  |,ara.lisc  or 
jm.v  other  gr«4,,l,„„&„,„„,    f  „„t,„    -  j,,^      ^'"^ 

mt  gu-l !     ,  to    yo„  .„gli,„eV  t.,„  wo,,,  v„e„   C 
t,,  k    of    l.er  I     Beuutifhl,  ..bcyiWoring,    „h,.rn,i„. 
s|,l  „,1„|,    beaveni,,!     Ohf  cried   MXlge,    in    .T,' 

The  Jou|,g,giM,tlc.,„a,r  lifted  l,i»  handsome  ,l„.|- 
eyes  .n  la„g„i,|  astonislnnent  at  thi.s  buthrt 

Tou,,'mv ?'■'''"  '"•""■''•  "■""""■l.v.  "that  one 

bv  tl,    L     .f "'   '^"■-.'■•""'y  get  n,y  heart  stove  in 

by  lh,s  beautiful,  boivihiering-lwhat  vVa.s  tte  rest? 

-angel.    Are  the  either  two  like  her  "'  '"  ' 

There  never  «as  anybody  like  her  in  the  world 

suns-the  Idea  .»  absur.l !     And  now,  terrible  as  the 
task.,  I  .n,t  tear  znyself  away,  L  my  ZX 

sai7,'lr  """^  ''^''"''  '  "'"'  »''°"'  ">  '""ke  myself" 

C   el      „r","*' ■'"™'   '""""gout  a  g«l„  hm,ti„:. 

".tth  and  glancing  at  the  hour;"  l,„t    fir,,    ,i„  r 

.:  'hj;';:i.:i;!;r;';;'""- '  '-•« "-  f'^i-i^  to  :n,ake 

with  a  ,H>,ite  little  bol,  "  iXir'^^iu^^MiS;.' 

Ann  hmith-everybody  knows  n,e  ;  John  Sn,   ,   • 

.you    have    heard  of  l;in,t_is  ,„;  f.,,,, "  ^";,   'T 

morning,  sir.    When  yon  fall  in    L     'ft  i  m'  1 

Tonvood,  be  kin.l  enough  to  let  n,e  Low. '    """*'" 


N 


\    1 
ii 

V 

n 


m.  "  O"  ""  '^i-  "i«  Know."  \ 

.,^»i-o»«g  gentleman   with'  the  foreign l^iiT- J 


7^'T. 


N 


>       ' 


T 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  99 

-  sprang  lightly  to'his  feciCsnd,  .lofflng  his  hat  made 
,       lirfa  second  flourishing  bow  snat,ma(Ie 

■      i-  s'hLr"*"'';'^  'I""'-    ■«°°"-"°">i"g.  Miss  smith. 

1       '  ™'^"'  "'"  ^''"'"'tion-  of  this  iour 

^nl.l  I  see  you  agajn.    Come,  Faust.- 

'   *«'."t,i''"-^'''"'?"''   '''"^^If.-I''^  »-ter  shoal. 
*re<l  Jus   /?5n,  and,  whisthng  an  air,  sauntered 

direction  of  To-woodtown,  thinlting  much  more  than 
■  wa.  customary  or  ,ui.e  pfu.Ient  of  the  wo"dert  ^ 
hamfeoine  young  stranger  who  accosted  young  Ses 
vithout  the  ce^.„,ony  of  an  r„tn,duction,  and^Xj  . 
to  them  lu.  suc*i  free  and  easy  strain         '  ' 

Mr.  McPherson  ;&  at  home,  and  Madge  eheere-l 
his  solitary  bachelor  dlhner  by  her  co41yTm 
spirited   conversatAn.     R,ozi„„nte's   foot    was    " 
ended  to  and  shrfad'Iittle  difflc^ilty  after  d  nnt 
^n^ersuading  the  minister  to  «,turn  *ith  her  to  tie 

"You    haven't    seen  Edith,    you    know!"  she 
urged;  "and  there's  I«ey-the  way  that  Ll  i 
hirting  with  the  doctor  is  a  sight  to  see.    Myhn 
have    one    gram    of    sense  in    your  head,  yo^;,'!; 

''  But  ]\rad/ime  Tor^vood  told  me  not  to  "        ' 

Tou^!^!l%^^"'!-™"''^"™^^-     ^^«»  came  to  the 
Towers  before  she  ever  knew  there  was  such  a  place 

in  existence  and  will  again,  please  the  pigst    Get.   " 

Tr^tlTi^r^^"'  ^-^  .^^^^;  -'  -/- 

.^^"duclv-  took  outbis  snii^-box  and  ielped= 
timselftoahugepinchpisnufF,  and  Madge,  lean - 


'4 

■  i 


V^. 


100 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


ing:  forward,  began  gesticulating  furiouslv  to  some 
one  outside. 

"I  say,  there-Mr.  Torwood !  Cousin  Anmas 
look  here,  will' you;  it's  I." 

A  young  man  riding  down  the  street,  drew  rein 
suddenly,  and  looked  up  at  the  window,  Mad-e 
leaning  out  until  there  seemed  considerable  danger 

•  of  her  coming  to  grief  by  tumbling  out  head  fore- 
most, began  shouting  again. 

"Just  hold  on  one  minute,  will  you!    Are  you 
going  to  Torwood  Towers  ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Angus  Torwood. 

"  Then  hold  oif  as  I  told  you,  and  Mr.  Mac  and  I 
will  be  with  you  in  a  pig's  whisper."  * 

Mr.     Torwood,    if  not   previously  aware   what* 
precise  period  of  time  a  pig's   whisj)er   might   be 
I)robably  set  it  down  as  fifteen  minutes,   for  in  that 
time   Miss   Torwood  and   her  clerical  friend  made 
.tbeir  appearance,  booted  and  spurred  for  the  ride 
Madge  made  the  two  gentlemen  acquainted  in  a 
somewhat  brusque  fashion,  and  a  brisk  ride  of  full 
half  an  hour,  brought  thetrioto  their  journey's  end 
As  they  ascended  to  the  piazza  steps  Lucy  came 
out,  her  pretty  face  flushed,  her  blue  eyes  sparkling 
her  whole  face  aglow  with  pleasurable  excitement  ' 
"  Well,  Lucy,  what's  the  row?  "  Madge  inquired 
slapping  her  boot  with  her  whip.     «  What  streak  of 
luck  has  happened  lately?    Nobody  proposed  this 
morning— did  they  ? " 
"  Oh,  Madge,  Florence  has  come  ! " 
•'♦Has  she?    So^we  are  all  together,  at  last,  like 

60WS. 


Weh,  genttemen,  corae  aloW  and 
let  us  see  what  this  last  Miss  Torwood  looks  like." 


i*».~- 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


lOI 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

«  THIS  OENTLEMAN^MY  BETROTHED  HUSBAND." 

Lucy,  leading  the  way,  the  tliree  others  followed 
nto  tHe  drawmg-room.    The  golden  afternoon  sun- 
light came  m  at  the  open  casement,  and  basking  like 

of  them  her  black  satm  dress  falling  in  shining  folds 
to  the  floor,  a  cincture  of  black  velvet,  dot?ed  all 
over  with  little  rubyand  golden  stars,  sinning  he 
small  wa,st;  a  jacket  of  purple  velvet,  buttoned 
otle  arched  throat  with  silver  buttons,  tinkling 
like  tmy  bells  whenever  she  moved  ;  a  rich  cross  of 
pearls,  quamtly  set  in  red-gold,  lying  on  her  breast; 

esTkn  ?rr^'''^'''',"^^'"«  hair  gathered  in  a  mod-' 
est  knot  beh>nd,  and  with  one  or  two  scarlet  gera- 
nium blossoms  m  velvet-green  leaves  reposing  in  tlie 

itZf  i^'n^M     T""''^'  '"''^^^'^'^'  picturesque,  she 
ooked  If  not  handsome;  but  in  the  broad  serene 
brow  the  calm,  earnest  gray  eyes,  the  thoughtful 
mouth,  there  was  something  that  would  long  outlast 
all  the  pink-and-white  wax-<loll  beauty  in  the  world 
A  specimen  of  that  rose  and  snow  beauty  was  there 
too.     In  a  great  gilded  and  carved  arm-chair,  a  radi- 
ant vision  sat-a  youthful  angel,  whose  azui.;  silken 
Jobe^l^lay^Uh^outline^  of  a.4^er^^^ 


agreat  wax  doll  with  pink  cheeks,  viollTevesTS 
gold  ha.r,  falling  i„  a  shouer  of  rippling  curls  to  her 


0 


^ 


102 


THE   SISfERS   OK   TORWOOD. 


waist ;  a  blonde  belle,  whose  extremely  low-necked 
and  short-sleeved  dross  showed  shoulders  and  throat, 
archeti,  plump,  and  snowy  white  arms  and  hands 
like  Hebe's  own. 

A  very  full-blown  beauty,  indeed,  who  would  have 
made  two  of  any  of  the  others  in  breadth,  though 
scarcely  as  tall  as  Lucy ;  the  pink  cheeks  were  as 
round  as  apples ;  the  delicate  Ungers,  sparkling  with 
rich    rings,   were  all  dimpled   like  a  babyC;  and 
Edith's  gohl  and  crimson-starred  cestus  would  not 
have  clasped  half  way  round  the  blue  silk  waist.     It 
never  would  do  to  stigmatize  a  young  lady  as/ajf, 
therefore  the  i^ost  one  can  say  is  that  ]\riss  Florence 
Torwood,  the  golden  anil  azure  vision,  was  decidedly 
inclined  to emhonimnL     IJeautiful  she  was,  so  youn<r, 
so  fresh,  so  blooming,  but  with  a  mere  animal  beauty 
only  skin  deep.     The  forehead  was  white  and  smooth 
as  snowy  satin,  but  no  intellect  sat  entlironed  there ; 
narrow  and    low  as  it  was,  too,  there  was  room' 
enough  for  the  words  vanity  and  deceit.     The  violet 
eyes,  rather  small,  rather  dull  generally,  (y>*//(f  sparkle 
sometimes,  when  she  looked  in  the  glass,  for  instance ; 
the  nose  was  perfect— no  artist  could  have  formed 
anything  straighter,  nicer,  or  more  characterless,  out 
of  putty  or  clay ;  the  mouth  was  like  a  rosebud  ;  the 
chin  dimpled  like  the  plump  hands  ;  and  overall  fell 
the  shimmering  curls  of  gold,  down  to  the  rounded 
waist.     Ear-drops  of  coral  and  gold  sparkled  in  her 
ears ;  gold   bracelets  adorned   the  lovely  arms ;  a 
brooch  of  cluster  diamonds  clasped  her  corsage,  and 
her  jeweled  lingers  toyed  with  the  daintiest  of  fans— 
all  pearl  and  Kwans'down 


Yes,  Florence  Torwood  was  a  beauty,  and  a  co- 


..Jt'i:.ib,-a 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  103 

quette-selfish,  and  terribly  insipid ;    but  beauty 
like  chanty,  covereth  a  multitude  of  sins,  and  look- 
ing like  an  angel,  people  generally,  and  voung  men 
particularly,  were  very  AviHing  to  take  her  for  one 
and  went  raving  mad  about  her  at  first  sight. 

But  the  two  young  men  who  oame  into  her  daz- 
zling presence  now  were  not  of  the  kind  to  go  raving 
mad  about  anything  at  very  short  notice.     Mr  Mc- 
rherson  would    have    taken  snuff    before   her   as 
'rea(lil.y  as  he  would   before  unlovely    Madge,  and 
Mv  Torwood's  taste  did  not  at  all  lie  in  the  pink- 
and-uhite,  cream-candy,  and  wax-doll  line.     Some- 
thing not  near  so  lovely  to  look  at,  a  dark  daughter 
ot  the  earth,  stood  at  the  window,  with   a  bright 
smile  of  welcome  on  her  hps,  and  Avas  ever  so  much 
■  more  to  Ins  taste.     Hut  Lucy,  smiling  and  radiant, 
was  deep  m  the  ceromonv  of.introduction 

«  Florence,  here  is-J^adge,"  gaitlLucy.     "Would 
you  know  her?"    *      '    '"''v,. 

Miss  Florence  might  have  bee if"«^rin cess,  so  far 
us  lymphatic  ease  of  manner  went ;  no  princess  could 
have  l>een  more  unaffectedly  nonchalant  than  she 
A  languid  smile,  a  careless  extension  of  the  snowy 
hand,  a  faint  kiss  on  one  cheek,  and  a  quiet  stare- 
that  was  all. 

"  How  do  you  do !  "  Avas  her  listless  greeting  You 
have  grown  as  tall  as  a  grenadier;  but  I  think  I 
should  have  known  you." 

The  violet  eyes  wandered  away  to  the  gentlemen  • 
on  Mr.  McPherson  they  scarcely  lingered  a  second! 
on  Al  r.  Torwood  theyj-e^ted  with  a  faint  show  of  in- 
=^Brt^,  as  Xucy,  mmress  ^SOhe  ceremonfe^^^ 
over  and  formally  presented  him.     The  beauty  gra-  • 


L*.. 


104 


THE  SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD 


ciously  bowed,  and  held  out  her  taper  fingers 
with  an  enchanting  smile— a  smile  that  had  turned 
scores  of  heads  before  now,  but  which  produced  no 
such  astounding  motion  on  Cousin  Angus,  who  was 
gone  before  it  had  faded,  and  was  shaking  hands 
with  Edith  at'the  window.  Mr.  McPherson's  recep- 
tion was  hardly  so  genial ;  a  nod  of  the  golden  head, 
and  a  little  sour  glance  of  disdain  from  the  violet 
eyes,  rewarded  his  awkward  genuflexion,  and  de- 
pressed him  about  as  much  as  her  cordiality  had 
elated  the  other.  He,  too,  retreated,  and  taking 
a  seat  near  Madame  Torwood,  who  sat  enthroned  in 
her  easy-chair  near  thie  fire,  eying  the  proceedings 
,,  with  frigid  criticism,  refreshed  himself  by  a  pro- 
longed dose  from  his  snuff-box.  Madge,  leaning 
over  the  carved  and  gilded  chair,  dipped  her  fingers 
in  the  shining  ripples  of  her  new  sister's  hair,  and 
began  trying  her  hand  at  polite  small  talk. 

"  "When  did  you  come  ? "  she  asked. 

"  About  two  hours  ago  I  think, "  Florence  an- 
swered, suppressing  a  yawn. 

«  Alone  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Do  you  like  traveling? " 

"  No,  I  detest  it ;  it's  horrid !  " 

"  Are  you  tired  after  your  journey  ? " 

"  Dreadfully. " 

Here  there  was  a  blank,  Madge's  patience  and 
small  talk  being  exhausted  together.  Edith  and 
Angus  were  chatting  animatedly  in  a  low  tone,  and 
in  Spanish,  at  their  window  ;  Mr.  McPherson,  with 


one  leg  over  the  other,  was  staring  at  all  in  turn; 
and  madam  sat  grave  and  grim,  and  very  awful  in 


--?■ 


'\. 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


105 


her  stateliness,  and  wjttched  the  flickering  wood  fire. 
The  hush  that  folio \v<Hl  was-  oppressive,  but  it  was 
suddenly  and  most  unexpectedly  broken  by  the  min- 
ister. 

"Ma'am,"  ho  said  in  his,  most  Basal  twang, 
.  turning  upon  the  mistress  of  Torwooi  "  I  believe 
the  will  of  the  late  Judge  Torwood  \Jas  to  be  read 
when  his  four  daughters  were  assembled  here  for 
the  first  time.  The  four  are  here  pow,  so  what 
necessity  is  there  for  delay  ?  It  is  only  fair  that 
they  should  know  at  once.  " 

Lucy,  Madge,  even  the  listless  Florence,  looked 
vividly  interested  in  this,  and  the  pair  Jtt  the  window 
stopped  jialking  abruptly,  vividly  interested  too. ! 
The  mystery  about  the  will  made  them  all  the  more 
anxious,  and  in  the  pause  of  exjiectation  that  fol- 
lowed you  might  have  heard  the  beating  of  their 
hearts. 

Madame  Torwood's  face,  turned  to  the  fire,  had 
been  averted  ;  it  was  some  minutes  before  she  faced 
round  ;  and  when  she  did  the  dark  red  spots  that 
only  intense  emotion  of  any  kind  could  call  there 
burned  on  her  prominent  cheek-bones. 

"  I  have  no  objection,"  1  she  said,  with  a  slight 
tremor  of  the  steady  voice ;  "  the  sooner  or  later  it 
is  the  same  to  me.     Shall  I  go  and  fetch  it? " 

"  Ilatln't  your  son  better  be  present,  ma'am  2 " 

"  True ;  so  he  had.    I  wonder  where  he  is  ? " 

"Out  in  the  shrubbery,"  said  Editb;  "I  see  him 
there  now." 


cried  Madge,  rmiiiing  from 
the  room,  down  the  piazza  stairs,  and  into  the  shrub- 
bery like  a  flash.    DrFStuart  was  walking  up  and 

■  -y   1  •        i      ■ 


,/ 


!■■ 


r 


106 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


,  and  it  can't 
Come  in." 


down  under  the  shady  trees,  with  his  ever-present 
ineerschaum  between  his  lips,  and  Madge  shoved  her 
aim  through  his,  and  began  pulling  him  toward  the 
house. 

"  Come  along,  Doctor  Paul,"  was  her  cry ;  "  they're 
waiting  foi?  you.     The  will  is  to  be  read 
i)e  done,  it  seems,  unless  you  are  there. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  Dr.  Paul,  opening  his  eyes,  "  has  the 
other  one  come,  then  ? "  ' 

"  Florence?  yes  ;  didn't  you  know  it  ?  But  then 
you're  so  abominably  lazy,  forever  loafing  and  smok- 
ing in  out-of-the-way  corners,  that  you  can't  be  ex- 
pected to  know  anything." 

"  Is  she  pretty,  Madge  ? " 

"  Pretty  as  she  can  be  and  live,  only  there's  too 
much  of  her  for  my  taste.     She's  as  fat  as  a  seal.  " 

"  Nonsense  !  "  and  the  doctor  laughed. 

"  It's  true,  I  tell  you ;  wait  till  you  see ;  and  she's 
as  flat  as  skimmed  milk  after  a  thunder-storm ;  a 
great  pink  and  white  and  blue  and  yellow  doll ;  but  I 
dare  say  you'll  admire  her.  It  would  be  just  like 
your  stupid  sex  to  do  it." 

"  You  are  very  complimentary,"  the  doctor  said, 
still  laughing,  as  he  entered  the  drawing-room  with 
Madge's  arm  still  thrust  through  his. 

Everybody  stood  and  sat  precisely  as  she  had  left 
them,  and  Madge  led  her  companion  up  to  the 
azure  vision  in  the  gilded  chair. 

"  Miss  Florence  Torwood,"  said  Madge,  mimick- 
ing unconsciously  the  dulcet  tone  in  which  Lucy 
ha^  introduced  the  other,  "allow  me  to  present 
my  very  dear  friend.  Dr.  Paul  Stuart,  a  com- 
patriot of  yours  from  New  York." 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TQRWOOD. 


107 


To  the  astonishment  of  every  one  present  the 
dull  and  lymphatic  beauty  fairly  bouhded  out  of 
her  chair,  and  the  red  blood  gushed  in  a  liery 
torrent  to  face,  forehead,  and  neck,  dyeing  ail 
crimson.  Both  surprise  and  intensest  confusion  shone 
in  the  wide  open  blue  eyes  and  scarlet  face,  and  the 
words  she  tried  to  utter  died  out  in  a«vague  murmur 
onherJips.  All  stared,  as  they  very  well  might,  but 
Dr.  Stuart  was  as  cool,  and  bland ,^jjTdai^  innocently 
unconscious  as  if  he  were  five  years  old  instead  of 
five-and-twenty.  lie  was  a  great  deal  too  polite 
even  to  look  at  the  painfully  confused  face,  and  ex- 
pressing in  cool,  conventional  phrase  his  pleasure  at 
making  her  acquaintance,  bowed  to  Messrs.  Torwood 
and  JVlcPhefson,  and  retreated  to  a  seat  at  a  distant 
window. 

Ma<lge  was  staring  in  blankest  bewilderment  at 
Florence,  Who,  still  red  to  the  roots  of  her  hair,  had 
subsided  back  to  hep  seat ;  Lucy  was  the  picture  of 
surprise.  Madam  looked  startled  and  suspicious, 
Angus  was  half  smiling  knowingly,  and  Edith's 
grave  eyes  looked  calm  astonishment.  Mr.  McPher- 
son  alone  sat  unmoved,  and  returned  at  once  tathe 
charge. 

"  We  sent  for  you.  Doctor,"  he  began,  "  because  the 
will  is  about  to  be  read,  and,  as  you  are  an  interested 
party,  it  \Vas  necessary  you  should  be  presentv  If 
you  will  go  and  get  it,  ma'am,  I  will  read  it  now.^ 

Madame  Torwood  rose,  but  Madge  cut  in,  '*  Law  ! 

what's  the  good  of  going  for  the  will  ?   It's  a  long, 

-stupid  rigmarole,  1  knoW--atl  wills  are— arid  wilT" 

set  us  every  one  to  sleep  before  Mr.  McPSerson  is 

half  done  drawing  it  out.    All  we  want  to  know  is 


THE  SISTERS  OE  VoRWOoa 


io8 

"  So  I,,,  ^nn  ™     J  '  ""^  "'<"■«  IJotlier." 

has  beeT  loft  »      '        """""*'• '" '"''«''  *!>«  Property 

th«  my  late  Mena^Z]TJ^'Z  7JT"'"1  T'"' 
youno'  woinm   ■„,.  .  ^'      "  ™"'*''  »f  these 

n.a„,"  '  ""'  "  """'  ?<"""'■»  a»d  eccenWe 

«in^-„o™  ,,-,<„  some  hi  g  "f  ,:,''".  T"'* 
romance  tlian  anvthinn.  °f    "°      °"'''  '^"•■"'  '"  " 

Judge  To„v«,„  ,w  fe,;:'„:s';7.  --'— 

groun,ls,  the  market  value  „V  v,   '  ,  i  '  *  ""''' 

,kno„,  he  left  bank  s^k.^o  the  v-1       !'  "1  "''^"=">' 
thousand, olla...    Knov^g",:';:":  "'"'''"' 

his  monfy  b£  nlrXf,  r-^^^^^^^^^^ 

fortunes,  but aIs;''!lMr  MeP,  er,i*'  '™"t''    "'"' 

ingly  to  take  another  p^J^Ztr,  r""^>,'"°™''- 
ban<i."  pincn—   but  also  with  a  hus- 


a 


■g 


^here  >.«  apuseV    The  speater^,l«n.e,J7;^ 


'h 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD.  109 

bandana  handkerchief,  and  blew  a  sonorous  blast 
and  Madge's  black  eyes  flashed  over  on  Dr.  Stuart 
who  sat  with  his  eyes  do^vncast  dnd  his  lips  reso 
luteb^  compressed,  but  with  a  smile  of  intense^amuse- 
ment  lurking  wickedly  in  both. 

"With  a  husband,  did  you  say,  Mr.  Mac?"  de- 
manded pert  Madge.  «  Does  thaVmean  we  are  a  1 
four  to  marry  the  same  man  ? » 

"Your  patience  one  moment,  Miss  Madge.    In  se- 
lecting a  husband  for  one  of  Ids  daughters,  and  a 
master  for  Torwood  Towers,  it  was  quite  'natural 
his  thoughts  should  turn  to  his  wife's  son     I  am 
tjot  aware  that  he  was  personally  acquainted-in- 
deed  I  am  positive  that  he  was  not-but  the  younff 
man  s  excellent  reputation  as  a^octor  and  a  man  » 
-here  Dr  Stuart  made  the  minister  a  polite  bow- 
bad  doubtless,  reached  and  influenced  him      He 
therefore,  in  his  will  has  divided  his  bank  stock  into 
two  equal   parts,  .and   to   whichever   of  his   four 
daughters  becomes  the  wife  of  Dr.  Stuart,  Torwood- 
Towers  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  fall  on  her  wed- 
ding  day.    The  other  fifty  thousand  is  to  be  divided 
into  four  equal  parts,  one  to  go  to  his  widow,  the 
remammg  three  to  his  other  three  daughters.     Such 
are  the  terins  of  the  will." 

tb.^'i-  Jf^P'ff^"/^''^^^^.  and  in  the  dead  silence 
tl  at  to  lowed,  the  faces  in  the  room  were  a  study. 
The  red-hot  spots  on  madam's  cheek-bones  burned 
l.ke  fire  ;  the  lurking  roguish  smile  was  deepening 
on  Dr.  Stuart's  face,  in  spite  of  his  most  decorouf 

efforts  ;  Lucy's  head  was  ayerted,  but  lier  eyes  Avere^ 
arooninir  nnrf  finr  n^•,n.I^^r. — . i_i.    -m  * 


A^^r.  '  -^       -""  "  ""  «*  ^«»  «Lu,  uuL  iier  eyes  w«re 

drooping  and  her  cheeks  scarlet ;  Florence  sat  toyinc 
with  her  fan,  her  momentary  confusion  gone,  and  a 


no 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


ner  na.ls  had  sunk  deep  i„  the  rpBy  pain,  Her 
vo.ce,  ,t  was  too,  that  first  .broke  the  si  ence  -.s  in 
"  tone  so  changed  that  they  hardly  kno>vl  '  H 
-v.thont  turning  round,  she  asked  :   ^  ' 

"And  suppose  none  of  Ju.fee  Tonvood's  fof,- 

'::itrtrr^ '°  ^"™-«  ^^«  -"« »'  s:^  «-" 

"then,"  said  Mr.  McPhccson,  peerinff  at  the  tall 
^ark  figure  curiously  over  his  s,;'ctacles!  "  t"' 
Towers  goes  unconditionallv  to  Dr  Sf,,.,-/ 
l.e  takes  the  name  of  Torwoo.l     t  ;  H        Z,       "'"" 
.lolla,.  go  to  Madame  To  wo«l'  to  be  iuJ'T"" 
-ever  she  pleases  at  her  death     alultol:  fiX 
th9u»and  >s  to  be  equally  shared  between  yo„  ^ou^ 
youngwomen.     It's  rather  an  odd  will,  I  Xw.tt 

Mr  McPherson  paused,  and  filled  up  the  hiatu,  hv 
mhahng  the  largest  pinch  of  snuff  that  em-  v^ 
drawn  up  human  nostrils.  ™^ 

Edith  Torwooil  suddenly  turned  round  from  the 

wT  w ;:  '"1 V""'"'  "-^  cordd'Zc ; 

know  It,  her  brow  dark  as  night,  her  cheeks  ..hu 
hereyes  flashing  flame.    Tb^y  ;ostL.  fo"^"' 
second,  on  Dr.  Stuart,  with  a  glance  so  full  of  bHter 
scorn  and  hatred  that,  had  I,«ks  been  li°htn  nl 
-wouldhave  blasted  him  in  his  seat.    Then  fhe  fle>  ^ 


•/ 


s 


^t:»HE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  m 

gaze  turned  from^son  to  mpther,  and  ift-the  same 
bitter,  fierce,  and  unnaturld  tone  in  which  she  had'. 

-    spoken  before,  she  said": 

*'  My  father  is  dead,  and  the  dead  shopW  be  re- 
spected ;.but  I  will  say  ndno  but  a  fool  or  a  madman 

.  could  ever  have  made  such  a  will.  My  father  I  never 
knew,  but  I  believe  him  to  have  boon  neither;  there- 
fore the  will  is  a  forgery,  or  waspc^mpted  by  some 
demon  m  human  shape.  *Judge  Torwood  nei^er 
wetrtr^ob  his  daughters  for  a  stranger  he  never 
saw ! "       .  '    , 

Madame  Torwood  arose,  fiery  as  her  step-daughter 
and  a  wordy  war  seemed  impending ;  but  Dr.  Stuart,' 
with  a  grave  dignity  no  one  could  assume  better  than 
he,  interposed. 
<       "  Mother,  restrain  yourself;  Miss  Torwood  certainly 
.^.  cannot  mean  you  by  tl^e  epithet  she  has  used.     If  she 
can  so  far  forget   herself,  your   best   answer  will  be 
-  silence." 

"  An  out-and-out  case  of  diajiond  cut  diamond  " 
whispeped  Madge  to)  Lucy, -ivh'o  sat  listening  with 'a 
,  rather  pale  an<Ktartled  face  now.  «  It's  the  best 
fun  1  have  had  in  a  montli  of  Sundays.  Shouldn't  I 
admire  to  see  those  two  firebran/ls  scratching  each 
other's  face !  '•  ^  ^ 

There  are  some  people  who,  under  the  influence  of  \' 
strong  emotion,  attain  a  sort  of  grand  beauty,  bril- 
hant,   but  short-lived.     The  slight   figure  of  Edith 
seemed  to  dilate  and  grow  tall  in  her  keen  sense  of 
wrong,  in  her  bitter  resentment  and  fiery  wrath 
^^heturnM  back  ti)  the  vdndow,hQwe^^ 


another  word,  and  Madame  Torwood,  with  a  sort  of 
(defiance  in  her  face  and  tone,  turned  to  Lucv. 


/■ 


% 


tJX  &^ir-X'>'  •    ^  \stu 


>.. 


li 


112  T«K  sistp:rs  of  tprwood.      ,,        • 

"  Miss  Tor\voo(l,'you  have  heard  your  (tertd  father's 
last  commands.     Will  you  obey  ?" 

Lucy's  fiice  grew  painfully  flushed   one  instant, 
and  then  whiter  than  before. 

"  My  father's  dying  words  {>re  sacred,"  she  said 
a  voice  so  low  and  tremulous  that  it  couhl  scardfely 
heard.     "  I  will  obey."  *i 

**  Good  !    And  you,  Miss  Florence  ? "  in  the  same 
defiant  tone. 

"I— I  (Jon't  know,  I'm  sure,"  said  Florence,  look- 
ing scared  and  helpless  beyond  everything. 

"  You  have  no  particular  objection  though  ? "  said, 
madam,  rather  qontemptuously.  .  ~ 

"  NoM),"  very  faintly,  though.  > »      ■ 

"  Antl  you^jPss  Margaret,  what  have  you  to  say 
to  yoiir  fathf^'s  will  ? '? 

"Only  this,"  said  Madge,  who  was  silently  per- 
forming a  little  dance  of  ecstasy  with  a  chair  for  a 
partner,  « that  I'll  take  the  fifty  thousand  dollars 
and  your  son  to-morrow  if  you  like  !  " 

Miss  Florence,  flimsy  as  were  her  faculties,  must 
have  possessed  some  feeble  sense  of  the  ludicrous, 
for  she  tittered  audibly  at  this^  and  D^-.  Stuart  gave 
the  speaker  a  sidelong  ghmce  i^P^is  eyelashes, 
and  the  suppr;^ed  smile  c^me  1^^|^b£^  .,       '^J:  ' 

The  mistress*  of  Norwood  "turM^pHjpll  to  fflP"" 
tlark  figure,  all  crimson  and  blffil^^he  window.  • 

"  And  now.  Miss  Edith  torwood,"  she  said,  deri- 
sively, «  we  await  ymir  answer." 

Edith,  for  the  last  moment  or  two,  ha^  been 

^.ing  out  with  strange  intentness  at  a  figure  com- 
,     r.  apjhe  avenue;  doubt, surprise,  recognition,  de-  " 
l'glit>^PM»f"g  one  after  another  vividly  over  her  face 


,<>'# 


V- 


Ait 


,-f 


,    -M       # 


/ 


,   THE   SISTEftS  OF  TORWOOD.         I     II3I 

Now  slie  turned  round,  her  eyes  like  stars,  Ker  whole 
countL;n:ince  bright  with  triumphant  defiance.  . : 

*'.  You  siiall  have  it  I  "  she  cried  in  a  ringing  voice  I  '; 
"  wait  one  nionie^it."  ■ 

She  niiule  them  a  sweeping  courtesy,  the  same  tri-^ 
umphant  smile  on  ^her  lips  and  in  her  blazing,  eyes,  ": 
and,  with  the  light,  elastic  step  peculiar  to  htr,  i 
passed  out  of  tho  room.  -%.     \  ^  ■ 

"  Oil,  isn't  si|e  a  brick  ? "  exfclaimcil  Mad^Jto  her  i 
partner,  tlie  cliair,  still  in  suppressecf  ccstiisy,   *,  [ 

"Has  ihc  girl  gone  mad?"  Madame  Torwood 
asked,  looking  around.  ^,  •  ' 

"  There's  method  in  her  imidftess,  I  think,"  said  the 
quiet  voice  of  her  son !  "  ah<j  by  Jove !  she's  not 
alone."  . 

Not  alone,  certainly.     A  young  ft^an,  and  an  emi- 
ijently  handsome  ono^in  a  green  shooting-jacket  and 
splendid  top-boots,  at  the  sight  of  whom  Madge, 
opened  her  eyes  to  the  size  of  two  full  moons,  walked, 
hat  in  hand,  by   her  side,  entering  the  room.     Sh^ 
was  leaning  on  his  arm,  proudly,  triumphantly,  and, 
she  paused  with  him  half-way  across  theToom.   Dead  ' 
silence    fell;    strpng    expectation,    thrilled    evegr  - 
heart.  -     ^'^ "  -  'y 

"Vou  wanted  my  answer,"  she  said,  in  the  same 
ringing  tone ;  "  here  it  is !    This  gentlemaiv^j^  my  be-    ^ 
trothed  husband,  and  Avhen  I  leave  Torwood  Towers 
it  shall  be  as  his  wife  1 " 
.8 


ifu  *  J*?' 


--."-^^^jSfs-.    ,-y 


•>-r.; 


^ 


1J4 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD." 


CIIAPTEK  IX. 


THE    HUT    IN    THE    -WOODS. 


A  swELTEKiNG  Julj  day,  when  a  fieiy  sun  Ii;ul 
pulsated  red  and  lurid  in  a  lowering  sky,  and  iiad 
deepened  irffo  an  ominous  twilight  full  of  forebod- 
ings of  a  coming  storm.  The  brassy  sun  had  sunk 
out  of  sight  in  a  west  ftll  black  and  blood-red ;  an 
awful  hush  was  in  the  air,  as  if  earth  held  its  breath 
in  awe,  in  dread  of  the  wrath  to  come.  The  sea- 
gulls whirled  round  and  round  in  circles,  dipping 
their  glancing  wings  in  the  black  and  glassy  sea,  and 
screaming  shrilly  their  note  of  preparation  for  the 
storm.  "    . 

Down  dropped  the  night,  and  with  it  the  storm. 
The  bars  of  crimson  and  black  streaking  the  west- 
ern sky  turned  to  a  pall  of  inky  gloom— furid  flashes 
of  lightning,  from  what  quarter  of  the  heavens  no 
man  could  tell,  gleamed  incessantly ;  one  great  drop 
of  rain,  then  another  and  another,  faster,  thicker, 
heavier,  and,  with  a  hissing  rush,  the  tempest  burst 
in  it^might. 

But  while  the  rain  fell  and  the  lightning  fiashed, 
and  the  black  night  was  dismal  without,  within  Tor- 
wood  Towers  there  were  lights,  and  laughter,  and 
music.    Grim  it  looked,  lifting  its  weather-beaten 


^eadiTTtothe^mrknoss,  bnf  tlie drawing-room  and 
dming-room   windows   weie  bright  with  illumina^ 


TffE  Sisters  of  torwood. 


115 


tions,  and  tlio  sound  of  tliO  piano,  touclied   by  fair 
fingei^,  could  be  heard  in  the  pauiHes  of  the  storm. 

It  was  just  the  night  to  luxuriate  in  a  pleasant 
room,  with  books,  and  music,  and  social  chit-cliat— a 
night  the  sturdiest  man  would  not  have  cared  to 
venture  out;  and  yet,  just  as  the  rain  ceased,  a  win- 
dow opening  on  the  piazza  tliat  ran  around  the  sec- 
ond story  was  raised,  and  a  slender  figure,  a  female 
figure.  Shrouded  in  a  long  dark  mantle,  ^yith  the 
hood  drawji  far  over  its  head,  stepped  out.     For  a 
moment  or  two  it  stood  quite  still,  with  one  shrouded 
arm  extended  to  feel  if  it  sti}l  rained,  and  then,  as  if 
satisfied,  hastened  along  to'tiie   piazza  stairs,  de- 
scended, and   walked  rapidl^^  down   the  shrubbery 
^  toward  the  sea-shore.     It  w^s  a  strange  ni|ht  for 
•  my  one  to-be  out,  particularly  any  one  from  Tor- 
wQod  Tow'ers,  whgre  even  the  serpnts,  gathered 
together,    m    the   immense    kitchefi,  ^'cre   enjoy- 
ing a   banjo  breakdown  in  defiance   of  wind  and 
weather. 

An  unspeakably  miserable  night  it  was  still 
though  the  rain  l^ad  almost  ceased,  for  the  trees 
under  wliich  the  hoode<l  figure  walked  were  dripping 
and  clammy,  the  path  was  drenched,  the  grass  soak- 
ing, and  i  the  night  air  sodden  and  oppressive  with 
moistui-e.  The  wind  blew  raw  and  bleak,  and  the 
surf  breaking  ^n  the  low  sand  hills,  had  a  moaning 
m  Its  dull  roar  that  made  one  shiver  to  listen  to,  tell- 
ing, as  it  did,  of  shi])wreck  and  death.  The  black- 
ness of  the  night  was  illumined  above  by  the  ghastly 
blue  phosphorescent  glare  of  the  lightning  still  fl.n^h- 
in^,  aticl  5yTT,is  unearthly  light  the  figure  made  its 
way  down  the  storm-beaten  shrubbery,  and  struck 


il^'.ai^^L&^L^'Lk 


■4-  'If.    U.4 ' 


ii6 


THE  SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


off  into  a  side-path  leading  across  some  lonesome 
fields  ink)  the  l)hick  cedar  woods.     In  sunny  \days 
lazy  cows  chewed  the  cud  in  these  fields,  and  stared 
\ vacantly  at  stray  i)lowboys,  almost  the  only  crea- 
ture that  ever  took  that  lonely  short  cut ;  but  the 
cows  were  huddkul  under  the  trees  now,  and  the 
figure,  slipping  and  stumbling,  made  her  way  across 
unseen  even  hy  them.     Into  the  rough,  straggling 
path  the  cows  and  the  plowboys  had  made  with.^ 
their  clumsy  feet,  the  figure  went,  and  in  the  gloorti^^ 
of  tiie  <Jismal  cedar  woods,  appeared  like  a  dark  evil 
spirit  on  its  way  to  Erebus. 

By  instinct,  more  timn  sight,  it  seemed  to  make 
its  way  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mik?,and  then  sud- 
denly across  the  blackness  of  tiic  jiath  a  stream  of 
red  light  shone.  No  ghastly  flame  of  liglitning  tin's, 
but  the  broad,  lurid  light  of  fire  and  candle  shining 
from  the  window  of  a  hut  on  the  roadside. 

Of  all  wretched  huts,  it  was  the  most  wretched 
and  forlorn— a  miserable  affair  of  bark  and  rotten 
boards,  gaping  wide  apart,  and  letting  the  light  out, 
with  an  excuse  for  a  window,  where  only  one  pane 
was  glass, .  and  the  other  apertures,  where  glass 
should  have  been,  stuff"od  with  rags  and  old  hats. 
No  cabin,  no  wigwam  in  the  black  depths  of  son\e 
primeval  forest  couM  have  been  lonelier  or  more 
wretchedly  foi-saken  than  that ;  but  the  shrouded 
figure  hastened  toward  it,  and  looked  eagerly 
through  its  bne-paned  window. 

The  view  was  a  little  odd^  but  not  at  all  startling. 
On  the  rudest  of  hearths  a  great  £re  of  pine  4q^ 


blazed,  brilliantly  lighting  up  the  hut  and  its  ber 
longings.    Scanty  belongings  they  were ;  two  rickety 


»;:,.x.i«:.:£. 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


117 


jacmie 
\days 
tared 
crea- 

t  the 
1  the 
cross 
?linir  Jj. 

wttn,  "" 

loOrtk,  it    ^ 
:  evil 

iiake 
sud- 
n  of 
this. 


ning 


chairs,  one  or  two  stools,  a  rough  table,  a  dresser 
with  a  few  articles  of  crockery,  and  a  rough  trundle- 
bed  in  a  corner,  that  was  all.     Its'  inhabitants  were 
as  scant  as  its  furniture— a  huge,  overgrown  cat  sat 
blinking  stupidly  at  the  fire,  and,  bending  over  a 
saucepan  standing  on  the  red  coajs,  wjis  a  woman 
stirring  its  contents.    Presently  she  stood  up,  and 
in   the  firelight  she  loomed  to  an   almost  colossal 
height— nearly  siX;  feet.    She  might  have  been  one 
of  Macbeth's  witclies  watching  her  unholy  caldron, 
she  looked  so  weird  and  unearthly,  with  her  vast 
height,  her  fantastic  dress,  a  short  crimson  skirt,  an 
old  black  silk  shawl,  and  the  gayest  of  gay  cotton 
handkerchiefs  twisted  turbanwise  round  her  head. 

The  woman  was  a  mulatto,  but  in  her  straight 
regular  features,  her  broad  forehead,  and  flashing 
black  eyes,  there  was  a  sort  of  wild,  gipsyish  beauty, 
and  much  intelligence  still  lingering.  A  close  ob- 
server might  have  noticed  a  certain  wandering  rest- 
lessness in  those  bright,  dark  eyes,  betokening  an 
unbalanced  mind,  and  she  muttered  to  herself  as  slie 
stared  vacantly  at  the  fire.  Ilcr  age  might  have 
been  fifty,  and  her  profuse,  coarse  black  hair  was 
thickly  streaked  with  gray  ;  but,  hale,  strong,  and 
upright,  she  looked  good  for  the  wear  and  tear  of 
another  half-century. 

Sitting  down  on  one  of  the  stools,  she  clasped  both 
her  knees  with  her  arms,  and,  still  staring  at  the  fire 
and  muttering  to  herself,  was  evidently  waiting  for 
the  mess  in  the  saucepan  to  be  cooked,  when  there 


carn^  a  distinct  rtip  on  the  one  window-pane. 

The  woman's  sense  of  hearing  was  acute.    She 
started  up  instantly,  and  looked  in  th^  direction  pf 


w 


'  / 


/  . 


.^l 


118  IHE  SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 

the  soimd.     Tl.e  rap  was  repeated,  and  she  crossed 
the  room  in  long  strides,  and  looked  out 
^  "  Who  is  there  ?  "  she  asked,  in  a  voice  deep  as  a 
man's  but  not  unpleasant. 

^^  "  It  is  I,  Iluldah,"  snid  a  girlish  voice  impatiently 
1  ou  know  me ;  open  the  door." 
;         Iluldah  bent  l.or  towering  figure,  and  looked  at  the 
face,  from  wluch  the  hood  had  fallen  back,  in  the 
greatest  astonishment. 

i "  My  conscience !     If  it's  not  her,  herself »     What 
can  have  brought  her  here,  a  11  alone,  this  time  o' 
mght,and.«./^anight,too!  (5«me  in,  child-come 
in      Who  d  ever  thought  of  seeingyou  at  this  hour  > " 
She  opened  the  door  of  the  hut  while  speaking,  and 
the  gn-1  came  in,  crossed   over  to  the  fire,  with  a 
shiver,  and  sank  down  on  a  stool,  wearily  and  in  si- 
lence.    The  shrouding  cloak  dropped  damp  off  her 
s  ender  shoulders  on  the  floor,  and  the  face  on  which 
the  ifuddy  firelight  shone  looked  pale  and  fretted 
careworn  and  anxious.  ' 

Iluldah  bolted  the  door  again,  and,  sitting  on  an- 
other stool  opposite,  looked  at  her  with  eyes  in  which 
Jove  and  solicitude  shone. 

"  What's  gone  wrong,  hon(.y  ? "  she  a*sked.   '•  Some- 
thing must,  to  fetch  you  here  to-night.     What  is  it  ?  " 
"Everything,"  the  girl  testily  said;  "nothing's 
going  right      I  was  here  last  night,  but  the  place  was 
all  dark  and  shut  up.     Where  were  you  ?  » 

"Over  in  Torwoodtown,    honey.     There    was  a 
party  there,  and  the  fools  wanted  their  future  told 
llhmight  vou  was  some  of  them  coming  to-meht  — 
for  it's  always  in  the  dark  they  do  come     If  I'd'     ^ 
Known  you  wanted  me,  I'd  have  gone  to  the  house  " 


/    THE   SISTERS   OF   TORVVOOD. 


119 


"  No,  ypu  wouldn't,",  said  her  visitor,  peevishly ; 
"  I  don't  want  you  to  be  coming  to  the  house.  Yob 
frightened  me  enough  the  other  night,  and  I  don't 
want  you  to  come  back  again." 

"  Lor',  honey  !     How  did  I  frighten  you  ? " 

"  You  know  well  enoifgh — the  night  you  were  sit- 
ting at  the  gate.  I  cait't  help  showing  in  my  face 
that  I  know  you,  and  I  don't  wanty<ju  to  come  any 
more." 

"  Very  well,  honey,"  said  Iluldah,  meekh'.  "  I 
only  wanted  to  see  the  new  madam,  when  you  came 
along,  with  all  the  other  young  ladies  and  gentlemen. 
Was  one  of  tliem  the  madam's  son  ^"  ,. 

"Yes;  the  tall  one  with  the  fair  hair.  Take  a 
good  look  at  him  the  next  time  you  see  him,  Huldah, 
for  I'm  going  to  be  his  wife." 

"  Lor',  child  !     You  don't  mean  it." 

"1  do  mcim  it.     The  will  has  been  read." 

Huldah  instantly  grew  vividly  interested. 

"  Read  !     When  ?     Where  ?    What  is  in  it  ? " 

"  A  great  deal  of  injustice  and  romantic  rubbish.  I 
was  terribly  angry  when  I  lipui-d  i\  first ;  but  I  am, 
just  as  well  satisfied  now.  The  will  was  made,  not 
by  Judge  Torwood,  but  by  Judge  Torwood's  last 
wife,  and  gives  nearly  (ncrything  to  her  son." 

"  To  her  son  !"  Huldah  repeated  in  bewilderment. 

"Yes;  Mr.  McPhcrson,  the  minister,  told  us  all 
about  it  the  night  before  last,  for  the  first  time,  and 
nearly  all  falls  to  him,  on  condition  that  he  mar- 
ries one  of  us.  Marries  one  of  us — do,  you  underr 
staad4^^i^w^  SaldahyX^aeaa^^at  he  shall  marry 
me  1 " 

"  But  there  is "     . 


'il 


#- 


1,  -^^K*  3 


mi^ 


1 20      •       THfc:   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.    *     ' 

# 
"There  is  nobody  or  notliing  that  shall  stand  in 
my- way.     I  tell  you  I  shall  marry  him  !  " 

"Do  you   like  him"? »  Iluklah  asked,  looking  at 
her  curiously. 

'•;,>UJke  him!  "repeated  the  girl,  Jn-tones^of  shrill 
scorn,  her  (|yes  flashing  fiercer  flames  than  the  liot 
iirehght.     -^  tell   you  I  hate  and  desi,ise  him  more 
than  any  other  creature  on  God's  earth.      If  he  had 
the  spirit  of  a  dog,  much  less  that  of  a  gentleman,  do 
you  thmk  ho  would  take  the  property  of  four  orphan 
giHs  and  keep  it,  base,  sordid  hound  that  he  is  be- 
cause, forsooth,  tiiat  his  mother-nastlieir  father's  wife 
ahd  could  fool  him  as  she  pleased  ?     Like  him  ! »  she' 
reiterated,  her  voice  growing  piercing  in  its  angrv 
shrillness.     "I  tell  frm,  Iluldah  Black,  the  ni^ht  be- 
fore hist,  when  Iheard  it  first,  I  Q^uld  have  sprun- 
ut  Jiis  throat,  as  he  sat  there/smiling  insolently,  and 
-  torn  It  out ! "  '  "^ 

The  mulatto  woman  looked  at  her,  the  latent  fi-o 
in  her  own  eyes  beginning  to  blaze.  The  girl  had 
been  pale  enough  when  she  entered,  but  her  cheeks 
now  were  rosy  flame.  She  clenched  her  small  hand 
and  set  her  teeth  involuntarily,  as  sl^e  thought  of  the  ^ 
num  she  hated,  the  fire  in  her  angry  eyes  growin- 
more  fiercely  bright.  '^      °  » 

"  It  is  the  greatest  injustice  that  ever  was  done  I 
do  not  believe  any  Christian  court  of  law  would  rec 
ognize  such  a  will;  l^j^t  law  and  justice  are  not  al- 
ways the  same-r  know  that;  and  this  woman  is 
deep-deep,  designing,  and  crafty.  I  hate  her  as 
\vell  as  hermean,  spiritless  son.     But  in  open  warfare 


-f 


am  no  match  for  the  piF oFtHem,  so  I  must  havT 
,cour««  tn  «f.o.o,,...      I  thought  it  all  over  yester- 


recourse  to  stratagem. 


~'v^!»'    J 


■ 


V 


at 


^■M^     J 


V 


THE  SISTKRS  OP  TORWOOD.^  lii 

(lay,  and  laid  my  plans  as  I  tell  you.  I  f  you  hel])  me, 
I  shall  marry  this  Doctor  Stuart,  and  reign  mistress 
of  Torwood ! " 

"  You  will  marry  the  man  you  hate '{  " 
"  Huldah,  don't  be  a  fool ! "  Huldah's  visitor  p(^t- 
tishly  cried.  "  What  do  you  know  tibout  such  things ? 
Every  day,  for  money,  girls  marry  men  they  hal^e. 
and  why  not  I  ?  I  want  to  be  rich  and  honored.  I 
want  to  travel  and  see  the  world.  I  want— oh,  mil- 
lions of  things  that  only  money  can  procure ;  and 
so  you  must  help  me  in  what  I  am  going  to  do." 

"  My  darling,"  the  nmlatto  woman  tenderly  said, 
"  you  know  I  would  die  for  you." 

"  You  are  a  good  creature,  Huldah,"  said  the  girl, 
softening,  "  and  I  am  too  cross  with  you ;  but  my  dis- 
mal walk  has  upset  me,  and  I  grow  wild  every  time 
•  I  think  of  that  horrible  will.    When  I  am  rich,  you 
shall  not  be  forgotten-— remember  that." 
"  Honey,  what  is  it  you  want  me  to  do? " 
"  Oh,  lots  of  things.    I  have  been  plotting  and  plot- 
ting, until  my  poor  head  is  ready  to  split.     It  is  not 
going  to  be  an  easy  task,  for  I  must  work  with  a  vel- 
vet mask  on  my  face  and  kid  gloves  on  my  hands  ; 
in  other  words  I  am  acting  a  character  not'  my  own 
every  day,  and  I  must  keep  it  up.     They  don't  sus- 
pect me.    Of  the  four  sisters  of  Torwood,  I  fancy  I 
am   the  one  least   likely  to  be  suspected ;  I  have 
taken  good  care  of  that.     But  plotting  evil  is  new  to 
me,  and,  Huldah,  it  tires  me  to  death." 

She  sighed  heaVily,  and  looked  at  the  fire  again, 
with  eyes  from  which  air  the  flame  and^  sparkle  had  "^ 
vanished. 

Huldah  laid  her  hard  brown  hand  with  a  tender 


..vl-A.^V 


/. 


i^- 


122 


THE   SISTERS  OK  TORWOOD. 


touch  on  the  listless -little  onc%  folded  wearily  in  the 
girl's  lap.  '  '  ^      -^ 

"Only  tell  me  what  you  want  me  to  do,  child,  and 
(Ion  t  look  so  pale.  You  know  I  love  nbbody  in  the 
world  but  you."     ;  ' 

«  Thank  you,  Huldah.     I  must  tell  you  verv  fast, 
,    for  I  want  to  get  back  before  I  am  missed,  and  it  is  a 
wretched  night.     Just  see  that  lightning ' "        . 

She  shivered,  and  (h-ew  closer  to  her  companioti. 
Huldah  patted  the  hand  she  held,  soothingly,  and  still 

face  ^^^'  '^""^"^  """  ^^^  ^""""^  ^""^'^  P^'^ 

"  How  did  you  manage  to  get  out  without  their 
knowing  it,  now,  honey  ? " 

"Oh,  I  pleaded  a  headache,  and  begged  they  would 
not  disturb  me  for  two  or  three  hours,  and  they  won't 
Ihey  thmk  I  am  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  iust  at 
this  present  moment,  and  they  are  enjoying  them- 
selves with  three  young  men  in  the  Virawin|-room. 
If  they  only  knew  wiuit  I  am  about ! " 

She  broke  into  a  short  laugh  at  the  notion,  but 
checked  It  instantly,  and  frowned  at  herself. 

"  Bah  !  tliis  fooling  won't  do,  and  the  hours  are 
passing  Half-past  nine,"  she  ^ai*^,  jmlling  out  a  toy 
of  a  watch,  and  I  must  be  back  at  ten,  lest  any  one  Jf 
my  three  tender  sisters  sAoukltake  it  into  her  head 

Huldah  P'  '"^ '"''''"'  '''"'^  '^^  ''^''"^  "^'   ^""'^^  ^^'*^"' 

The  two  drew  close  together,  and  for  about  ten 
minutes  talked  in  whispers,  as  if  they  feared  the  cat 
mhe  fire  might  hear  and  tell.    Then  the  girlarose 
^d  picked  up  hef^cloak.  .  ^^.    ^  .^==*.=^ 

"Remember  all  I  have  said,  Huldah,  and"do  as  I 


I 

J 


THE  SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD.  123 

tell  you  and  everything  will  go  right.  Lightning 
st.I  !  How  I  hate  the  thought  of  going  back  over 
that  dismal  road  !  Are  you  ready  to  come  with  me  ? 
Make  haste!" 

Iluldah  seized  a  coarse  blanket  shawl  lying  on  the 
bed,  drew  it  around  her  tall  form,  and,  opening  the 
door,  led  the  way  out. 

The  night  was  as  drear  and  dismal  as  ever,  the 
wind  as  raw,  the  lightning  as  vivid,  and  the  hut  as 
lonely  It  was  no  hour  or  place  for  conversation, 
and  silently  they  went  on,  the  girl  clinging  to  her 
companion's  shawl.  As  ten  pealed  from  the  Hall 
clock  m  Torwood  Towers,  the  twain  stood  at  the 
loot  of  the  piazza  steps. 

"How  will  you  get  in?"  Huldah  asked,  looking 
at  at  the  lights  streaming  from  the  kitchen,  hall 
and  drawing-room  windows.  ' 

"  Through  my  chamber  window ;  it  opens  on  the 
piazza  Good-night,  dear,  kind,  good  Huldah.  Only 
do  as  I  tell  you,  and  I  shall  be  mistress  here ' " 

"I  will  do  everything  you  tell  me,  my  darling'' 
the  giantess  said,  kissing  Ipvingly  the  little  hand  el 
temled  to  her.     «  You  know  I  would  die  for  you  " 

The  girl  ran  lightly  up  the  stairs,  flew  along  the 
piazza  and  paused  at  the  window  from  which,  two 
hours  before  she  had  issued.  There  was  a  flash  of 
lightning.  Huldah,  standing  below,  like  a  tall  black 
ghost,  saw  a  white  hand  wave  to  her  in  its  blue 
glare,  and  then  the  form  at  the  window  vanished. 
With  It,  went  the  blue  light,  and  all  was  blackness 
again  The  very  night  seemed  to  feel  that  someT-^ 
thmg  evil  had  passed. 


t^i-JidM.^ 


124 


THE   SISTERS  OF  .TORWOOD. 


r 


CHAPTER    X. 


STRICTLY    CONFIDENTI^(LL. 


■^> 


Once  upon  a  time,  when  "gods  and  goddesses, 
without  skirts  or  bodices,"  reigned  in  Olympus,  there 
was  a  certain  one  of  tkis  ni|raber— Achilles,  I  think 
they  called  him— who,  hajfe  been  dipped  when  an 
infant  in  tlie  river  Styx,  w^s  rendered  thereby  in- 
vulnerable forever  .\fter,  except  in  the  heel  by 
which  his  mother  hadheld  him  wliile  ducking  him. 
Madame  Torwood  was  sometliing  like  Achilles— in- 
vulnerable at  all  points  but  one,  and  that  qne  weak 
point  did  not  lie  in  her  heel  but  in  her  heart.  That 
organ  wfls  iron^clad  to  all  the  worltj  bjit  one,  that 
one  her  son  Va\\\— there  fin  arrow  could  ehter,  there 
was  the  one  weak  place  in  her  strong  masculine 
nature. 

Dr.  Paul,  leaning  against  the  mantel  one  evening, 
the  second  after  the  arrivt^l  of  Florence, itnd  looking 
down  at  his  lady  mother  i^>lacidly  crocheting  in  her 
arm-chair,  startled  her  by  suddenly  saying— 
,    "Mother,  I  wish  you  would  give  a  dinner  party."  * 

Down  went  the  crochet,  wide  open  flew  madam's 
eyes. 

"  My  dear  Paul !  " 
"  My  dear  mother ! " 


K 


V, 


Give  a  dingier  party  ?    What  nonsense !    Til  do 


no  such  tiling  ?|" 


iv 


THE   SISTKRS  OF    TORWOQD.  125, 

"Oh,  yes,  you  will !  to  please  me,  you  know-it's 
a  whim  I  have." 

"  I  don't  care  about  your  whims !  I  won^t  do  it 
Dmner  party,  indeed  !  Who  is  to  eat  it  ^ "  ' 
n„^^  f  7'  "^«»y  poople-I  have  the  list  all. made 
out  and  all  the  ceme  de  la  ereme  of  TorNvoodtown  • 
so  don  t  lool:  so-  shocked.  What  day  will  it  be  r '  ' 
.Stuff  «nd  nonsense!  What  put  this  notion  4n 
your  head  ? " 

"The  'Spirit  of   Hospitality.'     This  is  Monday 
Let  me  see-suppose  we  say  Thursday." 
-     "  Now    Paul !  "— expostulatory.      " 

"  Ever^lnng  can  be  ready  In  that  time,  new  dresses 
for  the  young  ladies  included;  if  they  want  them 
My  dear  mamma,  don't  make  that  dismal  face  if  you 
can  help  It-it  entirely  spoils  your  good  looks,  and 
Dr.  Leach  told  me  yesterday  you  were  a  line-look-  • 
mg  woman."  ■< 

Madam  relaxed  into  a  smile-no  such  monster  as 
a  woman  msensible  to  flattery  ever  yet  existed. 
*u       ■  wu       '^  ^  simpleton,  and  Dr.  Stuart  is  an-    ' 
other     What  do  you  want  this  dinner  party  for, 
Paul     -^It  is  something  m9re  than  a  mere  whim,  Pm 
sure."  ,  ' 

"So  it  is.     Well,  Pll  tell  you.     The  good  people 
of  Torwoodtown,  it  appears,  are  dying  to  know 
what  the  new  Miss  Torwoods  ^re  like,  and  it  is  only  ^-. 
a  common  Christian  act  to  keep  them  from  expiring 
of  curiosity.     Besides,  the  world  will  think  you  in 
tend  keeping  them  shut  up  like  nuns  in  celJs     Oh 

^fott  must  give  the  dinner  party."  '^ * — 

That  must,  like  the  fiat  of  a  king,  decided  it     In  ' 
vitations  Avere  issued  for  the  following  Thursday  to  '^^ 


1 


.-■M4I* 


^^iimisibi^^iSi^^SSk 


126  THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 

the  ino»t  exclusive  pf  Torwoodtown  fSlite,  and  the 
nioet  exblusive  5f  Torwdodtown  elita  were  only  too 
happy  to  accept.  Mr.  anUJtfrs.  Lawyer  Graves  and 
the  three  Misses  Graves  sent  a  perfumed  nqte  of  ac- 
ceptance f  so  did  Pr<  Leach,  so  did  the  Rev.  Adonis 
Breeze,  the  Episcopal  clergyman ;  so  did  Mr.  and 
Mrsl  Emory,  who  lived  in  a  lovely  villa,  and  had  a 
house  in  Baltimore  for  the  winter,  and  who  had 
more  money  than  they  knew  wliat  to  do  with ;  so 
did  young  Mr.  Moreen,  whose  father  was  a 'senator, 
and  who  came  to  Torwoodtown  every  season  to  fish, 
and  shoot,  and  smoke  cigars,  and  make  eyes  at  the 
pretty  girla^  so  did  thd  Rev.  Mr.  HcPherson,  so  did 
Mr.  Angus  Torwood^  so  did  Mr.  GiaccomoSt.  Leon; 
and  all  who  were  not  invited,  and  hoped  to  have 
been,  were  nearly  frantic  Avith  jealousy.  Somebody 
else  was  nearly  frantic  too-^old  Aunt  Chloe,  the 
cook,  who  for  thirty  years  and  upward  had  never 
heard  of  a  dinner  party  at  Torwood  Towers.  But 
h'ere  Lucy  came  to  the  rescue. 

"Never  mind,  auntie,"  she  said,  with. her  good- 
natured  little  laugh,  "you  attendto  yOnr  hares,  and 
turkeys,  and  thickens,  and  roast  beef,  and  the  rest 
of  the  heavy  atillery,  and  I  will  devote  myself  to  the 
jellies,  and  .custardg,  and  pastry,  and  blanc-mange. 
Don't  fret^— betwefen  us  it  Avill  he  a  success,  never 
fear." 

So  pretty  Lucy,  down  in  the  kitchen  region,  in  a 
dainty  calico  wrapper,  her  sleeves  rolled  up  over  the 
(limpleil  elbows,  her  pink  cheeks  flushed  scarlet,  beat 
eggs,  ai\d  Avliipped  jellies,  anil  made  ice-cream,  and^ 
was  entirely  invisible  up-stairs.  The  three  younger 
Misses  Torwood  were  of  very  little  use  in  tEese  days 


X)f 


'A 


iJtiv^. 


THE   SISTEI^S  OF-  TORWOOD. 


127 


of  preparution.  Edith  played  Mendelssohn  and 
Beethoven's  grandest  arias  in  a  way  that  would  have 
sent  those  composers  themselves  into  ecstatic  rapture 
could  they  have  heard  her.  The  parlor  organ 
whereupon  Judge  Torwood's  second  wife  used  to 
play  diiring  the' few  brief  years  she  spent  at  the 
Towers,  and  which  had  lain  in  the  library  unused 
ever  since,  had  been  repaired,  and  occupied  a  corner 
of  the  drawing-i-oom  now,  and  wonderful  were  the 

.melodies  the  Creole  girl's  fingers  drew. from  its  old 
keys.  Florence  lounged  in  easy -chairs,  or  lolled  oh 
sofas  all  day  long,  yawning  over  novels,  or  eating 
candies,  of  which  she  generally  kept  a  peck  or  so 
about  her.fordaily  consumption,  or  lisping  milk-and- 
water  small  talk  to  her  nearest  neighbor.  And,* 
Madge  rode  over  the  country,  ami  sailed  over  the 
sea,  and  was  here  and  there  and  ever^'where  at  once, 
making  noise  and  commotion  and  banging  doors 
wherever  she  went. 

There  were  visitors  too,  at  the  Towers— rAngus 
Torwood,  (iiaccomo  St.  Leon,  and  the  Rev.  Alexan- 
der McPherson  vied  with  each  other  in  their  fre- 
quency and  lengtfftof  their  visits,  and  Dr.  Stuart 
was  bland  as  6il  with  all  three,  and  his  mother 
frowned  silent  disapproval  from  her  throne  in  the 
chimney  comer.  Between  that  dignified  lady  and 
her  three  yoimg  ktep-daughters  a  sort  of  armed  neu- 
trality existed,  liable  to  break  out  into  open  warfare 
at  any  moment.  For  Lucy,  whom  nobody  could  by 
any  possibility  dislike,  her  feelings  were  half  liking, 

4iaIf^contempt ;  for  Edith^CTer  since  the  reading  of 


^n 


the  will  and  the  startling  explanation  that  wound  it 
up,  she  had  conceived  an  almost  positive  hatred*, 


\/ 


<,3i^' 


■<(£ 


128 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


FJorence  she  despised  too  much  to  hate ;  and  Madm, 
mad  and  boisterous,  she  shrank  from  l.itk  scS 
horror  and  detestation. 

v^'MlT'''  ^f''  "f  "<>«'"'<'>««.  she  treated 
with  a  freezing  c.vihty  that  was  altogether  thrown 
away  on  that  eminently  nonchalant  yonng  gentTe 
man  who  cared  no  more  for  her  or  her  gfanT^> 
thanhed.dforthebarkingofhisgroatNewinndla^ 

luh\    ^u^  ''"'  ™'"'' '"'™  '»'"'  him  outright, 
with  good,  honest,  open  hatred,  as  she  did  Edith 

only  the  young  man  happened  to  bo  one  of  ttoe 

and  yet  he  *rf  please;  you  liked  him  without  know! 
mg  why,  and  laughed  at  his  jokes,  and  let  him  IZ 
you  round  h,s  finger  without  wishing  to  resTstal 
mostwrthout  knowing  you  „...  following  hisLd' 
It  might  have  been  his  handsome  face-ffr  a  h 2 1 
some    a*e,  on  a  man  or  woman,  has  a  power      't 
never  fails  ;  it  might  have  been  his  very  frLrnd-eas  ' 
way  of  making  himself  at  hon.e  with  evcrv  one  and 
ca  Img  people  by  their  Christian  name  ton  m.nute 
after  being  mtroduc«l  %  then,.     Whatever  i t  w  s 
the    charm    existed,    subtle  and    irresistible  •  an  1 
Madame  Torwood,  exacting  and  exclusive   ll^^ 
upon  one  she  felt  it  her  boun.len  duty  to  dSS 
She  wa.  by  no  means  sorry  E<li.h  was  his  betmthS  ' 
-.A.  never  would  have  done  for  her  darling  Pau3 
wife    though  any  of  the  other  three  migit      1  e 
Creole  girl  was  altogether  too  high-steppfnglto^ 
much  like  herself,  inclined  to  strike  fire  and  flfsh  at 
j^moment's  notice  ^"  "' 


u 


It'9  all  right,"  madam  said,  shrugging  her  sho«l, 


.  f 

\  THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD.  129 

Tliedming-room  of  Torwood Towers  l,n,l„„.„ 
out  in  such  resplendent  arrav  wi.hTn  7l,       "'"'""»« 

t..o  Oldest  inhLitantsVaTd^r    rtrsTi 
Stolen  ,_  ,,.„,„„g  b,„,tyess  in  the  d" 

gaped  in  adminriff  awe  around  Tfo  u  •  -^^ 
crimson  and  gold  fllhed  ba^rthe  J  f.stST  il' 
pictures  of  fruit,  of  deer  in  the  cool  gr^n  £art  „ f 
pnuieval  woods,  of  huntsmen  in  oinktL  !  ,  f 
cLasing  them  with  horso  and  hound    ,>=  1 

«  oWd  of  g.lden.grainli  mahorny'l  der^i:^ 
silver,  cut-glass,  and  along  array  of  wine  bott  J 

was  resplendent  and  dazzling  t„  look  at^  '  """ 

'f«:;rrdrnr:?,.n-d::itheTef'' 

:  cT'CamTT  """r--^'  tro^atz.- 

TnH  n»„       !•  ""^  "*''  ^'^"^  i"  black  velvet 

l^^nSftr^r.r^™^'"  Parisian— 

-.  There.  ^^::^:i::^^ 


130 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


last,  very  simply  dressed  in  black  silk,  with  soft 
quillings  of  luce  round  the  throat,  wide  sleeves  full 
and  flowing,  finished  with  undersleeves  of  misty 
illusion,  with  no  ornaments  but  a  brooch  of  gold  and 
jet,  not  even  a  flower  in  the  pale  golden  hair.  Yet 
somehow  she  managed\to  look  elegant,  ladylike,  and 
pretty  as  a  picture  in  Quakeress  attire  ;  and  madam 
had  glanced  at  her  withVi  critical  eye,  and  graciously 
said,  "  You  look  very  wAll,  indeed,  my  dear;"  and 
her  son  had  indorsed  th^  sentiment  by  a  look  that 
made  Lucy's  color  deepen  preceptibly. 

There  was  Madge,  too,  in  black  barege,  low-necked 
and  short-sleeved,  without  adornment  of  any  kind 
dancing  in  and  out,  her  e^es  like  black  stars,  her 
^cheeks  rocy  flame  in  her  impatience  for  the  coming 
of  the  guests.  i        # 

Dr.  Stuarb»^as  on  the  piazza  with  Sancho  jfnd  his 
meerschaum  pipe,  taking  it  all  very  easy,  but  with 
one  eye  and  both  ears  aimed  at  the  drawinJ-room 
nevertheless.  ' 

Edith  and  Florence  had  not  yet  made  their  appear- 
ance ;  the  former  was  walking  up  and  down  her  rooni 
listening  for  the  gallop  of  a  certain  horse,  the  sound 
of  a  certain  voice,  that  was  to  bring  her  downsLtairs  • 
and  Florence,  in  the  next  room,  was  under  the  hands 
of  Madenioiselle  Fifine,  the  French  maid. 

It  was  transport,  mademoiselle  said,  to  have  any- 
body  so  exceeding  lovely  as  Miss  Florence  to  dress ; 
and  she  curled  the  golden  hair  and  twined  it  in  and 
out  with  rosebuds  and  verbefta,  and  untied  ribbons 
and  clasped  bracelets  j,ll_in  an  ecstasy  of  ad  mi 


iiring 


"entliusiasm.    'No  wonder,   ten  minutes   after  she 
ceased,  a  vision  floated  down  to  the  drawing-room 


f 


SJ-' 


The  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  131 

more  bewildering  than  anything  ever  seen  out  of 
fairyland  or  a  novel.     A  vision  in  translucent  white, 
so  filmy  and  floating  that  it  waved  round  her  like  a 
cloud  of  mist ;  pale  oriental  pearls  glowing  with  dewy 
luster  on  the  lovely  uncovered.neck,  on  the  round- 
ed snow-white  arms,  and  clasping,  like  congealed 
moonrays,  the  flowers  in  her  hair.     Down  over  all 
fell  the  shimmoring  curls,  like  an  amber  veil,  to  the 
round  plump  waist,  clasped  by  a  dainty  black  belt, 
flashing  with  seed  pearls,  and   the  blue  eyes  had 
never  been  so  starry,  nor  the  rose-bloom  'so  deli- 
cately deep  on  the  round  cheeks  before.     The  jeweled 
fingers  toyed  with  a  jeweled  fan,  and  from  the  toe 
of  her  slippered  foot  to  the  crown  of  her  golden 
head,  the  silver  shining  vision  was  dazzling  to  loolc 
at.     Pretty  girls  were  coming  that  day,  but  she 
would  be  among  them  a  siin  among  stars.    Lucy's 
(luiot  prettiness  paled  and  waned  into  nothingness 
the  moment  she  appeared,  and  even  madam's  cohl 
eyes  were  betrayed  into  one  flash  of   involuntary 
admiration.     Dr.  Stuart  took  tlie  amber  mouthpiece 
of  his  pipe  from  between  his  lips  and  gazed  on  her 
as  on  a  iiicture.  so  lovely  that  you  feared  to  breathe 
lest  it  vanish  altogether. 

"Oh,  isn't  she  splendid  T'  Madge  whispered  in 
his  ear.  ''  She  is  beautiful  enough  to  be  put  under  a 
gla.ss-case  and  taken  round  the  country  for  a  show. 
How's  your  heart — stove  in  ? " 
,  "  Haven't  the  faintest  shado^v  of  such  a  thing 
^about  me.  I  never  saw  anything  so  lovely  in  my 
"life." 


"  I  declare  it's  a  shame  ! "  Madge  resentfully  broke 
out,  struck  with  sudden  indignation.    "  What  busi- 


132         The  sisters  of  torwood. 

ness  had  she   monopolizing   beauty  enough  for  a 
dozen,  and  Edith  and  Lucy,  not  to  speak  of  myself 
the  most  deserving  of  all,  to  be  stigmatized  /t  the 

I  feel  slighted  by  nature-I  do  so!'-  ^ 

"  My  dear  Madge,  don't  torment  yourself  f     Yon 

ZS:^'' ""  '"''"^'' '"'  -  ^  ^-^' """ 

.      IIo  stopped  su<ldenb._a  horseman  was  riding  Ids- 
nrely  down  the  bridlo-patl,,  and  the.,  was  a  fusi 
and  flutter,  and  a  faint  o<lor  of  delieate  perfume  be- 
lund  him     Miss  Edith,  in  blacic  Lpe,  ,  forTi^. 
oohng  velvet  jacket,  its  flowing  sleeves  slashed  t. 
the  elbow  wi  h  wb.te  satin,  the  gold  ehain  and  cros^ 
0  w,th  rubles  „  he-  breast,  and  searlet  geralT 
Wossoms  m  her  sbming  dark  hair,  was  stan.hug  in  the 
loorway,  dark  and  haughty,  and  of  marble  to  h  n, 
but  «Mth  eyes  that  slu,ne  with  h,strous  light  for  the 
s^ow  ho,.eman  ri.lingso  much  at  his  ease  down  h i U 
Dr.  S  uart  ros«,  up  and  offerea  his  seat  with  a  cour 

would  not  even  accept  a  chaSr.-  *=   ? 

"Thank  you,  no  !  "she  said^  sweeping  past  him 

her  long  lashesdroopin^geoldly^verh'eriiityr: 
and  leanmg  hghtly  against  a  pillar,  she  toyerkS 
the  clusters  of  sweetbrier  blossoms  growingWnd  t 
and  waited  for  the  horseman  to  come  up  ' 

Slapping  his  boots  with  his  riding  whip,  and  whis- 
tling a  tune,  he  sauntered  up  the  steps  in  his  own 
easy  fashion,  and  took  oflf  his  hat  to  the  ladies 
Ah  I  r    i^'!"^^^  Edith-good  afternoon,  Doctor: 
Salubrious,  thank  you."  Madge  said,  with  gray,: 


I 
t 

h 


\< 


? 


A,' 


\ 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  ,33 

ity.  and  Edith  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  puz- 

«  Why  do  you  call  her  Miss'  Smith,  Giaccomo  ?  I 
have  heard  you  do  it  before,  and  she  answersas  if 
It  were  her  name."  aiibiiers  as  it 

Mr  St.  Leon,  slapping  his  boot  still,  gave  MaAa^ 
a  s.<te,o„g  glance  f™m  his  dark  eyes,  a^  hTo  J^ved 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  the  young  lady 
slZl'''"'\''r  ''  "".»<•  her  name  was  mi 
doTb^  I^H~     'T'  f"  '«'"■  »«  ^«.  »<i  I  never 

able  hnti  ™  ^■"I«'^t»  Very  unfashion- 
able,  but  the  cgars  over  there  at  the  hotel  are 
enough  to  kill  a  hor«,,so  I  only  smoked  half^ 
dozen  or  so,  and  then  was  obliged  to  leave  offand 

waT  Ih  -  t  -".T""™""  -^  MePhe-n  ^^  my 
way.  Ah !  there  they  are  jogging  along  together 
now.  I  suppose  I  had  better  go  in  and  pay  my 
respects  to  madam."  ^*         i^'v  "V 

in  wTtf  fIh''  "■';'P-'""""'^  """^'""g.  >■«  ^foiled 
,r  !u  fl  ;  ""''  "'••  ^"'•■"•'  looked  after  them 
v,th  that  doubtful  smile  of  his,  that  puzzled  you 
for  .ts  meaumg.  Looking  down  again,  he  found 
Madge's  black  ey^s  staring  at  him  with  curious  in 
tentness. 

;;  Wdl  ?  »  he  said,  the  smile  deepeningon  his  face. 
What  makes  you  look  so?"  demanded  blunt 
Madge.  «  I  hate  that  queer  laugh  of  yours  Ihen 
there's  nothing  in  the  world  to  |rin  at"^  I  ;ho:^," 
like  to  know  what  you  see  so  funny  about  Jackeymo 
St.  Leon  and  our  :^dith  "  ^ 


-  terma^nti  tow  do  you  know  r 
was  laughing  at  them  ? "  "  i^now  i 

.  ^'  Because  I  do  1    I  can  see  as  far  into  a  miUsfone 


V 


li 


.^ 


134  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.       . 

as  the  man  that  made  it!    WhafS  more,  Dr.  Paul 

Stuart,"^  with  a  flash  of  her  black  eyes  that  reminded 

.  him  of  Edith,    "  I  know  what  you  are  thinking  of !  " 

"Paul  and  Madge  Torwood  are  -among  the 
prophets  !    Out  with  it,  my  little  Witch  of  Endor." 

Madge,  with  her  great  eyes  fixed  piercingly  on 
his  face,  Ava-s  wonderfully  grave  for  her.  '^  "  Dr. 
Stuart,  look  here,"  she  said  abruptly,  "  you  knew 
Florence  before  you  saw  her  here  " 

"  Did  I  ? "  ■  '     • 

"  You  know  you  did  !    How  was  it  ?  " 

"  Ask  Florence.'"  ■, 

"  I  have,  do«ens  of  times." 

"  And.  what  did  shfe  say  ?  »  "said  Dr.  Stuart,  with 
the  smile  Madge  disliked  in  his  face  again. 

"  Turned  as  red  as  a  beet,  and  told  lies— said  slie 
never  saw  you  or  heard  of  you  before  the  other  day 
when  the  will  was  read.  I  hate  people4hat  won't 
'tell  the  truth !  " 

"  The  truth  should  not  always  be  told,  mv  dear '' 
he  said. 

Madge  gave  him  an  atigry  flash  of  the  eye  that 
reminded  him  more  and'.^ore  of  her  Creole  sister; 
but  he  only  laughed  gk)d-naturedly,  and  ran  down- 
stairs to  meet  Messrs.  McPherson  'Jind  Torwood. 

Madge,  with  some  thoughts  of  her  own  not  very 
pleasant  shadowing  her  bright  face,  went  into  the 
drawing-room,  \Vhere  Edith  was  at  the  piano  sing- 
ing  some  Spanish  song  St.  Leon  liked,  as  only  Edith 
could  sing ;  where  Lucy,  in  a  window  recess,  never 
idle,  was  bending  over, embroidery^  and  where  Flor- 
enee  sat  ^side  St.  Leon  tm  the  sofo,  and"  looked  ~ 
.languidly  at  a  Ijook  of  prints  he  had  brought  to 


l^- 


,.jb./- 


■  ■^■•! 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


135 


her.  A  strikingly  handsome  pair  they  made,  and 
very  well  content  they  looked.  The  shade  darkened 
more  and  more  on  Madge's  face,  and  going  over 
to  the  piano  she  stood  beside  Edith,  and  watched 
her  while  she  sang. 

And  now   the  other  guests  were   coming,   and 
Edith  left  the  piano.     St.  Leon  made  room  for  her 
on  the  sofa,  but  she  only  smiled,  and  went  over  to 
Cousin  Angus,  while  Mr.  McPherson  devoted  him- 
self to  Madge,  and  Dr.  Stuart  sought  out  Lucy  in 
her  Avindow,-and  began  taking  private  lessons  in 
embroidery,  and  in    something    else,   his    mother 
hoped.     One  by  ,one  the  carriages  drove  over  the 
hill,   aild  Madame  Torwood,  stately  and  stiff,  was 
welcoming  her  guests  until  the  drawing-room  was 
filled  and  all  had  arrived.      The  sisters  of   Tor- 
wood  were  playing  the  agreeable  to  the  elite  of 
Torwoodtown— Lucy,  very  sweetly;    Edith,  like  a 
princess  royal  among  her  subjects  ;    Florence,  with 
a    flow  of  listless  tittle-tattle,  chiefly  about    the 
weather :  and  Madge,  coming  out  of  her  crossness, 
had  something  to  say  to  every  one.     On  these  oc- 
casiqns  the  half  hour    before   dinner   is  generally 
fearfully  stupid,  and  though  all  were  doing  their 
best  to  talk  and  be  exceedingly  at  ease,  no  one  was 
sorry  when  dinner  was  announced. 

Madame  Torwood  was  led  in  "by  the  Rev.  Adonis 
Breeze,  who,  like  half  the  other  young  men  pres- 
ent,  was  desperately  smitten  with  Florence ;  her 
flon  bore  on  his  arm  Mrs.  La\yyer    Graves.     Mr. 


"TTawyer^raves  took  Miss  Torwood;  Edith  leaned 
on  the  arm  of  Cousin  Angus,  Florence,  followed 
with    St.  Leon,  and  Madge   stepped  along  with 


136  THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


ok 


n^ 


young  Mr.  Moreen,  whom  she  had  fascinated  in 
five  minutes  by  her  black  eyes  and  spirited  styJe 
of  conversation.  Of  course  the  dinner  was  hke  all 
other  dinners-small  talk  and  clattering  knives  and 
rattling  forks,  glassware  clashing  with  the  usual 
amount  of  laughing,  whispering,  and  flirting. 

Madge,  to  whom  it  wag  all  new,  was  in  a  high 
state  of  rapturous  excitement;  butrwhile  she  kej)* 
one  ear  devoted  to  the  service  of  Mr.  Moreen,  the 
other  and  both  eyes  were   aimed  at  Giaccomo  St 
Leon  and  Miss  Florence.     St.  Leon  was  telling  won- 
derful stories  of  hunting  buflfalo'  out  West,  of  a  trip 
he  had  made  in  a  yacht  up  the  Mediterranean,  of  a 
.winter  spent  in  Constantinople,  and  of  life  among 
the  dark-eyed  senoritas  of  Havana  ;  but  there  were 
moments  of  intermission  when  he   found  time  to 
lower  his  voice,  and  talk  of  other  things  to  Flor- * 
ence. 

Some  one  else  was  on  the  alert,  too— Dr.  Stuart 
found  time  to  look  that   way  now  and   then,  and ' 
exchange  glances  with  Madge,that  said  plainly  as 
words,  « I  see  what  is  coming,  aM  so  do  you." 


.,PK>«  ■-■' 


<l^ 


C  ( 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


^37 


n 


CHAPTER  XI. 

-1    ■  '  '   '    \'  -^ 

'THE  minister's   THiftEE  REASONS. 

fcth^rtj     OtiT  ''"■^f  »""  ^«^«  entranced 

-St  of  r™  a? '  ^°K::rrd  ^'"'  r^- 

of  a  man  "  M^  c*  t  ,    '  ^^^^^''j  handsome  love 

ve;iir,vtdit^^;ura^^ 

thehoupfor  breaking  up  came  '    ""' 

?>ff  the  piazza.    Lnov.  EHith  pi J"™ngiaaies 


TIT  tfie  piazza.  i.ucy,  jMitli,  Florence  and'M  j  ' 
Ve«t  down  into  the  grounds  amUleir  St  ?  ^^ 
and  Torw9od  went  with  them.    Br^^bWt  " 


and  the     '- 


^^Uic^^^^Vi;^  hi^*iLm** 


r,<.^   ^     3    ^f*,     ,4W 


I    THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

Rev.  Alexander  McPherson  walked  up  and  down  the 
piazza,  arm  and  arm,  the  former  inveterate  smoker 
with  a  cigar  in  his  lips,  and  the  later  looking  at  the 
group  below,  and  taking  thoughtful  pinches  of  snuff. 

"  Very  pretty  tableau,"  Dr.  Stuart  said,  knocking 
off  the  ashes  of  his^  cigar  with  his  little  finger, 
"(^ood  scenery,  nice  moonlight,  lovely  women,  and 
brave  men  !    Would  I  were  an  artist !  ''     • 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that  good-looking  young 
man  Avith  the  foreign  name?"  Mr.  McPherson 
asked. 

"  I  think  with  you,  that  he  is  a  good-looking 
young  man." 

"  Nothing  more  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  the  second  Miss  Torwood  is  desperately, 
hopelessly,  and  irretrievably  in  love  with  him." 

Mr.  McPherson  looked  meditative. 

"  I  tell  you  what,  Stuart,  she's  a  fine  girl  that — 
plucky  and  spirited,  as  girls  ought  to  be.  Nothing 
flat  or  insipid  about  her,  as  there  is  about — but  com- 
parisons are  odious  ;  I  won't  say  it." 

"  I'll  say  it  for  you,  then — as  there  is  about  Lucy 
and  Florence.  Yes ;  whoever  nfdpries  Miss  Edith 
Avill  find  the  gray  marc  in  his  stable  the  better 
horse.     How  she  did  fire  up  about  that  will,  eh  ? " 

"  She  had  a  right  to." 

"  And  her  entrance  with  our  good-looking  friend 
down  there  was  quite  theatrical  ;  no  actress  on  the 
stage  could  have  done  it  better.  The  scene  couldn't 
have  been  better  got  up  at  any  price." 

"  Dr.  Stuart,"  Mr.  McPherson  gravely  said,  "  I 
"^on*t  like  your  tone  iri  speaking  M  that  young  ikdyv" 
She's  a  fine  girl,  high  mettled,  and  a  trifle  proud,  but 


■  r 


>- 


.  '  'Ma^^ 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


139 


^ 


with  the  ring  of  the  right  sort  about  hen  It's  a 
great  pity——"  he  stopped  abruptly. 

"  What's  a  pity  ? " 

"That  she  should  throw  herself  away  on  that  foj 
down  there,  who  isn't  worthy  to  tie  the  latch  of  hei 
shoe." 

"  My  dear  fellow,"  said  Dr.  Sluart,  puffing  away 
vigorously,  «  don't  you  know  it  is  not  always  your 
fine  girls  that  have  lots  of  sense  on  these  subjects. 
Women  are  quite  as  much  slayes  of  their  eyes  as 
men,  and  what  matters  that  fellow's  empty  head  so 
long  as  it  is  fronted  by  a  handsome  fadex" 

"  It's  a  great  pity,  a  great  pity^  she  will  never  be 
happy  with  him.    Miss  Florence  would  suit  him  far 
.  better."  <* 

Dr.  Stuart  laughed.  -  j 

"  His  own  opinion,  precisely,  my  friend !     By  the 
way,  what  a  lovely  creature  she  is--isn't  she? '] 

"  Very  pretty,  indeed,  and  just  the  wife  foF  Mr. 
St.  Leon." 

"  Ah  !    I  don't  know  about  that  !     I  think  I  have 
a  prior  claim  there." 

"  You  ?    Humph  !  that  reminds  me  IqniteforgJ 
to  aslf  you  where  you  ever  met  her  before  ?  "        *  " 

"  How  do  you  know  I  have  had  thit  pleasure  ?  " 

"  For  the  simple  reason  that  young  ladies/do  not 
generally  blush  scarlet  at  sight  of  an  entire  stranger 
You  did  not  meet  Miss  Florence  Torwood  f(iur  daj's 
ago  for  the  first  time.  Don't  tell  me  if  ybu  have 
the  least  objection ;  but^on'tfell  white  lie-in  deny- 
ing the  fact." 


Some  ludicrous  recollection  seemed  to  flash  on  the 
young  doctor,  for,  raking  his  cigar  betWeen  his 


,/r 


J  >-- 


\ 


\ 


140 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


finger  and  tliumb,  he  broke  into  an  immoderate  fit 
of  laughter.     Mr.  McPherson  eyed  him  stoically. 
^"  I  thought  so.    Are  you  going  to  tell  me  about 

"  Couldn't  possibly  !  "  said  Dr.  Stuart,  still  laugh- 
ing ;  "she  mightn't  like  it.  But,  seriously  now,  my 
dear  fellow,  as  I  have  to  marry  one  of  these  bloom- 
ing sisters,  why  should  I  not  select  the  most  blooming 
of  the  lot  ?  I  could  not  find  a  prettier  wife  on  this 
hemisph^e  than  our  belle  blonde,  Florence — why. 
should  I  not  take  hei^." 

"  For  three  simple  reasons," 

"  Name  them." 

"  First,  because  she  would  not  have  you  !  She 
likes  the  little  finger  of  that  handsome  imbecile 
down  there  better  than  your  whole  body." 

"  Good !  I  don't  set  up  for  a  beauty.  What's  the 
next?" 

"  You  wouldn't  have  her  if  she  were  ten  times  as 
beautiful,  and  hung  with  diamonds  from  head  to 
foot." 

"My  dear  fellow—"  half  laughing,  half  expostu- 
latory,  but  Mr.  McPherson,  rapping  the  ground  with 
his  cane,  cut- emphatically  in : 

"  I  tell  you  you  would  not,  and  you  know  it. 
If  ever  you  marry  one  of  these  sisters,  Florence  is 
not  the  one.    Edith  would  suit  you  far  better." 

"  My  dear  McPherson,  whal  are  you  thinking  of? 
Miss  Edith  would  not  touch  me  with  a  pair  of  tongs. 
Be^des,  she's  infatuated  about  St.  Leon,  adores  the 
gr6und  he  walks  on,  et  cetera!    What,  n.  pity  yon 


and  I  are  not  good-looking- 
laugh. 


-eh  ?  "  Avith  a  careless 


THE   SISTERS  OFi  TORWOOD.  '  141 

"There's  Lucy,  then,"  suggested  the  minister. 

"  So  she  is — as  sweet  as  maple  sugar  at  that.  But 
I  thought  you  were  a  little  tender  there^ — had  a 
prior  claim,  or  something." 

"  Never  mind  ;  I'll  forego  my  claim  in  your  favor; 
or  if  she  won't  do,  take  Madga  Capital  girl  is 
Madge,  though  rather  given  to  bounce." 

"Yes,  and  I  don't  like  bouncing  wives.  It's  going 
to  be  a  hard  matter  to  choose,  and  /i  have  only  six 
months  to  work  in.  I  think  I'll  insult  Cousin 
Angus  on  the  subject." 

"  I  don't  thiuk  you  will,  unless  it'is  on  the  subjecf 
of  privately  assassinating  Mr.  St.  Leon.  He  would 
assist  you  to  do  that,  with  the  greatest  pleasure." 

"  My  dear  McPherson,  w^hat  a  penetrating  fellow 
yo«  mte\  Jealousy  is  a  green-eyed  lobster,  as  I 
heard  Madge  say  the  other  day  ;  and  Cousin  Angus 
lik€«  Cousin  Edith  a  trifle  too  well  to  have  much  love 
left  for  her  betrothed." 

"A  fact  of  which  she  is  entirely  ignorant! 
Wheels  within  wheels  ;  and  business  is  getting  ccwn- 
plicated,"  said  Mr.  McPherson.  / 

"  The  skein  has  run  smoothly  hitherto,  but  the 
tangle  is  at  hand,  and  when  it  comes  won't  there  be 
an  uproar ! " 

"  When  what  comes  ? " 

"  Never  mind ;  I  flatter  myself  I  have  a  knack  of 
looking  into  futurity —  ^ 

"  *  Tis  the  evening  of  life  gives  me  mystical  lore, 
And  coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before.' 


Tfa^riAadowfrai^  lengtfaeningiast-^^tfae^  events^are" 
close  at  hand." 


*ll 


■-'il^* 


«d^.- 


% 


% 


•^ 


■«*ptiMi 


142 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


"  I  don't  understand," 

"I  can't-  help  that.  Suppose  we  go  down  and  joiii 
them.    I  begin  to  feel  jealous." 

"lam  going  to  join  my  pony  and  go  home. 
Good  night,  doctor.  When  you  make  up  your  mind 
which  to  marry  let  me  know." 

He  went  down  the  piazza  stairs  in  his  usual 
slouching  fashion,  and  joined  the*group  on  the  lawn. 
Dr.  Stuart,  leaning  over  the  railing,  watcljedthem— 
watched  the  four  sisters,  fair  Lucy,  dark  Madge, 
fickle  Florence,  and  haughty  Edith,  and  the  old 
doubtful  smile  was  bdck  on  his  face  again. 

"Yes,"  was  his  thought,  " if  I  ever  marry  it  shall 
be  one  of  the  sisters  of  Torwood,  and  I  think— I 
think  I  know  whii|i  one  it  will  be." 


J 


4/.^ 


^ 


§^ 


^' 


I, 

I   i 


AiJj.l^A^'ts-.^tiisr.Ui^    .^     ctot'aif. 


Jjf^ 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


H3 


CHAPTER  XII. 


^  "  MY8TEKY. 

The  July  sun  glimmered  redly  across  the  broad 
taceof  the  bay  as  it  set  in  the  threatening  skv 
where  black    sullen  clouds    lower&i,  ominous    of 
eommg  storm.    Not  a  breath  of  airltirred  the  long 
rank  grass, in  the  lonely  arid  raeado^v,  where  the 
dull  cows  grazed  all  day ;  not  the  faintest  breeze 
stirred  the  honeysuckle,  or  scarlet  runner,  that  lifted 
,  jts  blood-red  stars  into  the  window  at  which  Edith 
iTorwood  sat,  her  thoughtful  face  resting  on  her 
hand,  her  eyes  wandering  dreamilv  over  the  wide 
yea.    It  was  m  her  own  pretty  room  she  sat,  with 
Its  pictures,  and  its  books,  and  its  little  cottage  piano 
in  a  shady  corner ;  ^ts  birds,  its  flowers,  and  a  thou- 
sand-and-one  daily,  useless,  charming  trifles  a  woman 
loves  to  gather  round  her. 

The  window  was  wide  open  to  catch  the  breeze 
that  came  not,  and  Edith,  watching  the  sun  go  down 
red  and  lurid  in  a  sullen  and  angry  sky,  was  think^ 
mg  of  the  hfe  she  had  left  behind  in  sunny  Cuba  of 
her  present  life  among  those  at  once  strangers  and 
relatives,  and  of  the  life  to  come,  not  beyond  the 
grave,  but  as  the  bride  of  St.  Leon^,   How  long  t.h» 


^  ^cek8sneMn^s[)ehtatTorU'<5d  Towers  L^ 
ed,  and  how  few  friends  .she  had  made.  One  would 
have  thought  she  and  Lucy,  gentle,  loving  Luc^ 


7/ 


144 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TOKWOOD. 


would  have  been  bosom  friends  and  confidantes ;  but 
things  never  turn   out  in  this  world   as  one   might 
reasonably   expect,  but,  strange  to  sa}',  Edith  had 
taken  a  violent  and  most  causeless  prejudice  against 
her  elder  sister,  as  she  had  also  against  Dr.  Stuart, 
and  was  like  a  block  of  marble  to  both.     One  might 
likewise  think  that  Madge,  who  personally  resembled 
her  most  of    all,  and   whose    frank,    open  nature 
made  hpr  universally  liked,  would  have  been  her  pet 
and  favorite,  but  here  again  reasonable  expecta- 
tion  was  at  fault.;  Florence— fair,  fickle,    selfish 
shallow,  inane  Florence— she  had  taken  for  her  dar- 
ling, the  only  inmate  of  Torwood  Towers  she  more 
than  tolerated.     In  no  one  single  respect,  mentally 
morally,  or  physically   were  they  alike;  but  ex- 
tremes meet,   and  perhaps  for  that  very  reason, 
Edith  half  idolized  her.     Iler  beauty,   too,  might  . 
have  had  something  to  do  with  it.     The  hot  blooded 
Creole  adored  beauty,  and  would  sit  for  hours  dip- 
ping her  fingersvin  the  golden  rings  of  hair,  or  play 
ing  lady's  maid  to  tlie  fair  Florence.    All  this  suited 
the  third  Miss  Torwood  very  well,  and  she  liked  to 
be  with  Edith,  and  share  her  room  and  her  jewelry, 
and  the  contents  of  her  confection  box.     Florence 
was  a  rank  gourmand,  any  one  could  reach  her  heart 
through  her  palate;  but  whether  she  had  any  real 
affection  for  the  sister  who  loved  her  so,  was  quite 
another  question.    For  the  rest,  Madge  she  disliked 
excessively,   Madame  Torwood    she  dreaded,   Dr. 
Stuart  she  shrank  from  visibly,  Lucy,  and  the  cook 
s^Q  ^'l^^'^l  very  well,  and  that  was '  almut  the  extent  _ 
of  it.     There  was  enough  rosy  flesh  and   bounding 
blodd  in  Florence  Torwood,  but  very  little  heart. 


^!*. 


■-•*y&.* 


J 


•' 


, 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  145 

The  crimson  sunset  was  still  flaring  itself  out  in  the 
sky,  when  Edith  rose  with  a  long-drawn  breath,  as 
if  from   a   trance,  and  seated  herself  at  the  open 
piano.     Something  in  the  dark  glory  of  the  evening 
must  have   been  in  her  heart,  for  she  struck  into 
Mendelssohn's  liymn  of  praise.     "Let  all  that  has 
life  and  breath  sing  to  the  Lord."     Grandly,  glori- 
||ously,  the  sublime  words  and  sublimer  music  floated 
%    out  through  the  still  halls  and- passages,  dying  away 
at  last  in  a  faint,  sweet  sigh. 

As  her  inspired  fingers  dropped  from  thekevs,  the 
door  opened  unceremoniously,  and  Miss  Florence 
came  in  with  a  lovely  bouquet  of  snow-white  roses 
and  glowing  carnations  in  her  hand,  looking  pretty 
as  a  picture  in  her  white  muslin  dress,  her  hair  hang- 
ing damp  and  half  uncurled  over  her  bare  shoulders. 
She  stared  .in  transient  amaze  at  Edith,  who  wel- 
comed her  with  a  glad  smile. 

"  You  here,  Edith  !  I  thought  you  were  over  in 
Torwoodtown. " 

"  So  I  was,  ma  heUe,  but  I  am  back.  What  lovely 
roses  !    Where  did  you  get  them  ? " 

Florence  bent  over  the  flowers,  and  touched  their 
cool  petals  with  her  lips.  Was  it  the  shade  of  the 
carnations,  or  had  the  ever-ready  blood  risen  red  to 
her  face,  when  she  answered : 

"  I  got  them  from  Mr.  St.  Leon.  He  brought 
them  for  you,  I  suppose,  and  as  he  could  not  see 
you,  he  gave  them  to  me." 

,    "  Giaccomo  here !  »  exclaimed  Edith,  In  a  tone  of 
^xation^r  "and  I  wanted  fa  seeTTm^articularly." 


Why  did  he  not  come  in  ? " 

"  Lucy  said  you  were  over  in  Torwoodtown. 
10 


He 


.■M;}... 


/ 


146         thI:  sisters  of  torwood. 

only  went  ten  minutes  ago.    Mr.  Torwood  was  here 
too."  .  ,    ' 

"  Too  bad !  Lucy  might  have  looked,  I  think,  be- 
fore being  so  positive.  I  came  home  half  an  hour 
ago.    Did  he  say  he  brought  these  flowers  for  me  ?  ^' 

"No;  but  of  course  he  did.  I  wasn't  speaking 
to  him  five  minutes,  for  just  then  that  horrid  Dr. 
Stuart  came  along,  and  I  ran  away."     • 

Edith  laughed. 

"  How  frightened  you,  are  of  that  terrible  doctor, 
my  dear !     What  has  he  ever  done  to  a^ou  «  " 
^  "  Oh,  nothin^^'  ... 

"Why  do  you  blush,  then,  every  time  you  catch 
his  eye  ?  and  what  is  the  meaning  of  that  odd  smile 
of  his  when  he  looks  at  you  ? " 

Florence  jerked  herself  uneasily  in  her  chair  and 
pouted. 

"  You  knew  him  before  you  came  fi^e  ?  Confess, 
ray  4arling,"  Edith  said,  bending  halKlauo-hinirly 
over  her.  \    "      ^ -^ 

"  Well,  yes  then  !  if  you  will  have  it,"  eked  Flor- 
ence impatiently,  "and  I  hate  the  sight  of  him— I  do." 

"  I  don't  particularly  love  him  myself,"  said  Edith 
her  scornful  lips  curling ;  « tell  me  all  about  it.  " 

"  It  is  not  much  to  tell,  but  such  things  me^ke  me 
feei  hoirid.  It  was  at  school.  Mademoiselle  De 
Juponville,  stingy  thing !  used  to  half  starve  us  girls 
—they  always  do*  at  boarding-schools,  you  know. 
Now  what  are  you  laughing  at  ? " 

"  Never  mind, »  said  Edith,  who  was  looking  at  her 
Bister's   plump  proportion   and  round  red  cheeks; 


"you  doHT  look  much  like  a  half-starved  subject 
that's  all."  •*     ' 


IL 


V    ■■^^■.    *..^tA£fcA'AuL.Jtrt"i&.-'  ^*»V-.t    ■    A#l4^,  nrfr^.  .a/^Jri*-!  1-    ' 


JfU^i^'tfAii.l 


-...._^„,V.,-  ■^■a^iy^lrJfi^-iiilSrA 


ittr  'imil  -i.  ri  ..''.  j.jA^-,  . 


- 1  /J  -*^^^'^ 


# 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWoOD;  I47 

"Well,  no  matter  about  that," said  Florence 
testily  ;  «we  were  half  starved-kei)t  on  transparent 
slices  of   bread  and   butter,  and  such  tea!     Well 

.    whenever  we  got  a  chance,  you  know,  We  .used  to 
make  up  for  it  by  feasting  on  the  sly.    And  what 

-    CIO  you  think  ?  one  night  we  ate  so  much  pastry  and 

,   rich  cake,  we  were  all  awfully  sick  next  day.    Made- 
nioiselle,  who  was  scared  pretty  nearly  into  fits,  ^ 
thought  the  cholera  had  broken  loose  in  the  school 
and  sent  in  hot  haste  for  a  doctor.   The  (Jcictor  ca«ne 
and  who  do  you  suppose  l^e  was  ? " 

"Dr.  Paul  Stuart,"  laughed  Edith.         '*       . 
"  Yes,  indeed,  -and  he  kept  questioning  and  flueg- 
tiomng-hateful,  prying  thing  !-until  Jane  jGore 

•  who  ntiver  could  keep  a  secret,  blurted'nhe'Vvhole 

thing  out.     I  declare  I  was  fit  to  die  of  shame!   and 

the  nasty  thing  made  us  each  swallow  an  emetic 

or  something  that  nearly  killed  us!  ;  Ihatethe  sight 
of  him  ever  since !  "  ■" 

Edith  laughed  till  the  tears  stood  in  her  eyes 
■      « I  don't  wonderi     Did  yoh  never  see  him  again 
until  you  met  him  here  ? " 

"Ko,  never.    They  say  I  blushed  like  anything 
1  am  sure  it  was  no  wonder."  , 

^  "Not  the  least;  and  that's  the  wonderf ufseQret ! 
Wbflt  a  dull  story,"  and  sh^laugh,ed  again. 

"  Oh,  yes,  its  very  funny,  I  da^e  say,"  said  Flor- 
ence, testily;  ''but  if^ou  were,  in  Wy  place,  I  guess 
you  wouldn't  see  anything  to  laugh  at.  Every  time 
he  looks  at  me,  especially  at  table,  with  that  dis- 
^^^ble  smile  of  his,  he  always  semns^saying, 


Tn5on  t  eat  too  much,  or  I'll  give  you  another  emetie. 


I  wish  ho  was  in  Jericho— I  do  !  " 


.\ 


mm 


mm 


148  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

^  "So  do  I !  Of  all  the  mean  creatures-but  there 
I  u'on  t  detract.  Come,  let  us  go  out ;  I  have  no 
.patience  to  stay  in  this  house  when  J  think  of  him 
and  know  it  may  be  his  some  day.  J  Florence,  don't 
you  ever  marry  him,'  almost  fiercely,  and  with  a 
terrible  light  Jn  the  gray  eyes,  «or  I  will  never  for- 
give  you  !  "         '    .9-    •> 

"Law!"  lisped  Florence,  who  had  caught  the 
word  from  Madge,  "what  an  idea!  I  am  sure 
1  always  feel  like  running  a  mile  at  sight  of 
him.  Besides,  he's  not  a  bit  good-looking,  and  I 
wouldn't  marry  any  but  a  handsome  man  for  the 
world."    • 

"My  pretty'sister,"  Edith  smiled,  passing  her 
arm  round  the  other's  waist,  "  you  a^e  lovely  enough 
to  marry  a  prince.  What  a  close  evening  it  is.  Let 
us  go  out  to  the  garden."  <- 

The  air  was  almost  as  oppressively  close  in  the 
grounds  as  in  the  house-not  a  breeze  stirred  the 
leaves  of  the  trees,  rustled  the  tall,  parched  grass 
or  moved  the  drooping  and  wilted  flowers     The 
sun  had  sunk,  a  scarlet  and  inflamed  ball,  in  a  lurid* 
sky  alternately  barred  with  black  and  rod,  and  the 
ominous  warning  of  coming  temi>est  sounded  in  the 
smothered  booming  of  the  sea.     The  girls  walked 
down  the  long,  dark  avenue  leading  to  the  shore  a 
darker  shadow  than  that  cast  by  the  gloomv  trees 
on  the  face  of  one- Edith.     People  of  sensitive,  ner- 
vous  temperaments  feel  storm  and  danger   before 
it  comes,  and .  vague  presentiments   were  thrilling 
through  the  Creole  girl's  heart.     Even  Florence,  al- 
bgit  not  Jif  the  sensitive  kind,  ^re^  withla  heiW"=^ 


with  a.  sort  of  shiver. 


,>>ii&i^-,     k'Svj^^tA'Mi-t 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORVVOOD. 


149 


Vel 


"Some  one  is  walking  over  my  grave! "  she  said.  " 
"  What  a  dismal  place !     Do  let  us  go  back." 

"Not  yet;  I  like  this  (larl>,  lonely  walk— I  like  ' 
this  eerie  and  ghostly  evening.     It  suits  me," 

;"You  are  easily  suited   then;  it  gives  mo  the 

horrors!     A  murder   might  be   committed   among 

these  black  trees,  and  no  one  be  the  wiser !     I  do 

believe  it  is  haunted."  "^  '       ' 

"  Are  you'  superstitious,  too,  Florence  ?    Do  you 

Blivei  in  ghosts  ?" 

\  Florence  gave'a  little  scream,  and  clutched  Edith's 
arm. 

\"  How  can  you  talk  of  such  thin^  here !  You 
frighten  me  to  death  !     Do  let  us  go  away." 

^dith  turned  reluctantly.  As  she  said,  the  place 
guitWl  her— she  took  a  morbid  pleasure  m  its  dismal 
gloojn.  The  perpetual  moan  of  the  ceaseless  sea, 
the  unbroken  loneliness  and  silence  of  the  arid 
meadpws,  the  black  cedar  woods,  and  the  mysterious 
murniurings  of  the  tall  trees  around,  had  a  weird 
and  mystic  charm  for  her.  They  suited  this  over- 
cast and  ominous  evenings  too,  heavy  with  forebod- 
ings, aijd  with  regret  she  turned  to  go. 

"  Ever  since  I  came  here,  my  ])retty  sister,"  she 
'said,  lovingly,  holding  Florence  round  the  waist, 
"  this  pUoe  has  had  a  charm  for  me.  I  love  to  lie 
under  the  trees  listening  to  the  waves  and  the  fisher- 
men's songs,  and  yetV- -"  i 

"  Yet  Avjiat  ?  You're  the  greatest  oddity,  Edith/' 
Florence  said,  plaintively,  sniffing  at  her  flowers,       * 


-Am  J  |i  I-dare^ay  ^  am^  but  my  oddity  yms 
born  with  me.  Do  you  know,"  she  said,  speaking 
put  as  if  from  a  sudden  impulse^  "  I  sometimes  think 


le'.f.lu-a  J;<a!t?  1 


A-:.. 


150  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD 

^  Rorenco  started  in  iep  weak  way. 
go  b^kr""''  "■'■"'  """'"  -™»  ""-''  y»"  '"»  never 

oer   prophecy,   and  her  solemn  gray   eves  full  nf 

Florence   gave    another    horrified   little  shriek 

'flood  gracious,  Kdith  !  what  horrid  thini"  ;„"do 

say  !     You  haven't  Consumption,  or  heart  disease  t 

grjp,«  or  anything  „,  that  sort,'  have  yo„  "    "'  r 

Kdith  laughed  m  spite  of  her  gloom. 

ment,af„rebodi„g,awarni„,,„fsomthi,r.~e 
Perhaps  I  am  wealf,  morbid,  superstitious  bu t  i t T; 
t;bere,  and  will  not  be  banished  "  '  ^ 

^  un.  or  such  tHit^r r intrfs:*;;^ 

You  have  made  me  decidedly  nervons ''      ^ 

Something  flashed  throu^^h  Edith's  mmj   n.     ^ 
casting  pearls  before  swine,  but  she       ild  ittnS 

"I  am  selfish  to  talk  of  such  e-ha^flv  fi,i«      . 

-rag  ^.    How   do  you  like  being  here?-does  TW 
wooa  Tower,  suit  you  ?"  asked  Ih,>i,  '        ''''  ^^^- 


^^.WjiLib3&;^i>'. 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD.  j^j 


"  Suit  ine!  "  resentfully  exclaimed  Florence. 


<( 


"but^sHuVl'^'^y  VV '"^^'^^'^'^'  looking  r6und; 
^Mlhke.t.    It  .not   the   placed  you; 

i«  I'JfV'  "''k  f '  P^^^^'^r  any  one  in  her  senses.  It 
IS  nothing  but  an  old  tomb,  smelling  like  a  vault  of 
must  and  rats.  Even  the  boarding^schpoi;.  s  LI 
so  much  better  than  this."  '    '"^''^  ^^^^ 

;;  What  will  you  do  when  I  go  back  to  Cuba? " 
.  I  rton  t  know,"  drearily.     «  I  shall  die  " 

f«»youwillnot;  belle  Florence,  prettysister  you 
shaU  come  with  me  when  I  go  back  Jo  Cuba  a  bride  " 

rou  Avill  never  go  back  to  Cuba  a  bride,"  a  hol- 
low voice  said.  .      >    '^  "oi 

They  hud  reached  the  end  of  the  avenue,  and  were 
near  the  shrubbery,  a  place  dark  and  dense  as  the 
hear  o  a  primeval  forest,  and  from  its  wooded 
depths  the  hollow  voice  had  come 

««r^V  Jr,'  ''^""^  ^^  ^^"S^'^'  Florence  tqrned 
and  sped  oif  bke  a  bolt  from  a   bow;  but  Sh 

wUh  every  trace  of  col.or  fading  from^heekf  ajd 
lips,  stood  like  a  stone. 

T  "^ ""","?!?'  V^  ^  ^^"^  *«  C"ba  a  bride,  Edith 
Torwoocl,"  the  hollow  voice  repeated,  and  then  there 
was  a  plungmg^d  crashing  within  the  shrubbery 
and  something  tall  and  black  went  rapidly  by  and 
Jisappeared JRlhe  evening^oom.     ^     ^   ^^  ^°^ 


ii-dith  stood  like  a  statue,  as  white 


cold  as  death 


and 


ne 


arly  as 


A. 


< 


^PP*^MPlttl>MHi 


152 


THE   SlSTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


/ 


^ 


A  voice  at  her  elb6\v  ar6used  her. 

"  Miss  Edith,  what  is  the  matter  ?     Are  you  ill  ? " 

She  turned  slowly,  and  at  the  sight  of  Dr.  Stuart's 

anxious  face,  momentariW  suspended  consciousness  ' 

came  slowly  back. 

"  No,"  she  said,  turning  to  go ;  but  he  followed 
her. 

"  I  met  Floreh'ce  just  now,  running  for  her  life, 
and  screaming  appallingly,  and  I  find  you  standing 
like  a  galvanized  corpse.  Will  you  not  tell  me  what 
has  frightened  you  ?" 

"No,"  she  reiterated,  coldly;  and  passing  him 
witli  a  bow  his  mother  could  not  have  surpassed  in*' 
freezing  hauteur,  she  went  up  the  piazza  steps  to  the 
house. 

In  the  doorway  she  Avas  confronted  by  the  pale 
and  startled  face  of  Lucy.      -^  , 

"  Edith,  what  is  this  Florence  tells  me  ?  Ifou  are 
as  pale  as  a  ghost."        _  ? 

"  It  is  nothing.  Some  one  has  been  playing  a 
practical  joke  ;  that  is  all.     Where  is  Madge  ? " 

"  Out  sailing ;  it  is  no  joke  of  hers." 

"  Some  of  the  negroes  then.  You  need  not  wear 
that  frightened  face.     I  tell  you  it  is  nothing." 

"  But  you  look  so  dreadful." 

"  Do  I  ?  I  am  foolish  and  nervous,  and  it  startled 
me  at  first.  I  am  going  to  my  room  now,  and  will 
not  be  down  again  this  evening."        '      f       ■ 

"  But  Mr.  St.  Leon  and  Mr.  Torwood  left  word 
they  were  going  to  call."  s^ 

"  Make  my  excuses  then.  I  am  not  fit  to  appear. 
This  Tidiculous  atfaif~haff  linstrung  my^erves, 
Where  is  Florence?" 


,&. 


J  him 
sed  in"" 
to  the 


\ 


;rHE  SISTERS  OF  ToRWoob.         153 

"  Up  in  your  rooni,  nearly  out  of  her  wits  with 
fright.    Can  I  do  anything  for  you  ?  " 

"  Thank  you.  Teli  Mr.  St.  Leon  to  come  again  to- 
morrow.    Gootl-night.'^x 

"  Good-night,"  Lucy  said,  looking  anxiously  after 
her,  as  -she  toiled'-^vearily  up-stairs.  "  I  Wonder 
what  it  could  have  been."  - 

"So  do  I,"  said  Dr.  Stuart,  making  his  appear- 
ance ;  "have  they  not  told  yoii,  either  ? " 

"  I^lotence  says  they  saw  a  ghost  in  the  shrubbery, 
and  Edith  says  some  one  has  been  playing  a  practi- 
cal joke,  and  both  seem  half  scared  to  death." 

"  I  think  Miss  Edith's  version  is  apt  to  be  nearer 
the  truth.  How  dark  that  sky  is  ;  we  will  have  a 
storm  to-morrow."  / 

"  There  come  Mr.  St.  Leon  and  Mr^  Torwoodl 
If  they  stay  late  they  will  be  caught  in  the  storm\ 
going  home,"  said  Lucy,  entering  the  house  to  have, 
all  the  doors  and  shutters  and  windows  made  fast, 
in  expectation  of  the  coming  tempest.  ,    • 

Florence,  notwithstanding  her  terrors,  and  palpi- 
tations, and  hysterics,  managed  to  make  her  appear- 
ance in  the  drawing-room  in  a  most  bewitching  toilet, 
but  Edith  was  miserable  all  evening.  The  visitors 
were  disappointed,  of  course,  but  they  managed  to 
stay  until  ne^y  eleven,  nevertheless.  ,       '    . 

The  coming  storm  was  still  mute  in  tile  troubled' 
sky,  and  Dr.  Stuart,  lighting  a  cigar,  walked  up  and 
down  the  piazza  for  nearly  an  hour.. 

It  was  a  dark,  sultry  night,  not  made  for  sleep, "^ 


witb^-a-Wateryj  sickly    moott^gliitmierliig  palely- 


through  banks  of  clouds,  and  a  phosphorescent  light 
in  the  stagnant  air.    The  sounds  of  silence,  the  chirp 


-.-a  • 


•■'.Hi. 


'■■^, 


154  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

of  a  bird  in  its  nqst,  the  slipping  of  a  snake  in  the 
woods,  the  cracking  of  a  dry  branch,  the  ticking  of 
acockm  the  hall,  all  were  strangely  loud  in  the 
midnight  gloom. 

Twelve  pealed  sharply  from  the  clock  in  the  hair^ 
Or.  Stuart  flung  away  his  smoked  out  cigar,  and  was 
turnmg  to  go  in  when  an  unexpected  sight/caught 
h]s  eye  and  arrested  his  step.  ^  / 

A  clianiber  window .  opening  on  the  pia22a  softly 
swung  out.  a  figure,  slender  and  girlish  in  spite  of 
the  shrpjiding  mantle  that  draped  it,  stepped  out 
and  looked  cautiously  around.  ' 

Tlie  young  doctor  drew  backhand  leaned  against 
a  pillar;  Its  shade  hid  him  compJet^v.     The  dark 
figure  glided  by,  its  garment^ii^sr^Uing  hira, 
went  down  the  piazza  stairs,^^i|S4  straight  for 
-   the  shrubbery.  W'^^A- 

Another  dark  form  rose  up^  it^|jiroach,  and 
tor  half  an  hour  and  upward  the  two  stMWether 
two  black  shadows  among  the  other  black  shadows 
around.     And  then    they    parted-bne  vanishing 
among  the  trees,  the  other  returning  to  the  house 
Once  again  her  dress  brushed  thedoctor  in  passing' 
and  he  watched  her  glide  in'through  the  open  win- 
dow, heard  it  softly  close^  andthen  he  stepped  out  •• 
and  took  off  his  hat  to  let  the  gale,  rising  now,  fan 
his  hot  brow.     The  watery  moon,    breaking  from 
behind  a  black  cloud,  shone  for  a  moment  on  a  face 
white  as  ashes. 
.    "  Can  it  be,"  was  his  thought,  « that  all  my  worst 

Jmmm^  MmJrimlAs  oBe^a^-tbese^stei^spos^— 
sessed  of  a  demon  ? " 


^'tsiaafe.  ,  .  <   ,  '„w-  -.  liSfe  i 


^J%.  -. 


Nj:(*i>  «*.  h^  ^i 


■^^^uk&i  V 


.I 


THE  SISTERS  OF   TOKWOOE 


.9"^ 


155 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ONE  OP  Edith's  angels. 


J 


"Fetch along  the  line,  Jinks,  aWjI  m}  cigar^ase 
You  ar^  sure  Faust  had  his  dinner,  eh  ? » 
v^,    i^  Quite  sure,  sir." 

;  ,#.  -  ^fs  tight ;  and,  Jiiiks,  if  a^y  one  oalls  for  mo 
tfell  Inm  I  have  gone  to  Silver  StreaJ  for  trout. 
Come,  Faust." 

With  his  wide-awake  hat  on  one  side  Jf  %is  head 
a  fishmg^od  over  his  should^nd  Fajist  jogging 
along  by  his  side,  Mr.  St.  I^went  oft  whisf  Lg 
Jinks  the  hostler  of  the  TorwciodtoU  Hotel, 
looked  after  him,  and  so  did  some  half  d(^zen  loafer^ 
lounging  before  the  entrance.  H 

;;  Who's  that  swell  ?  »    one  of  th^jn  asiced.        ' 
A  foreigner,  I  guess,"  replied  Mr.ginks;  -least- 
ways  he's  got  an  aU-fired  foreign  hame.    Uncom- 
mon nice  young  gent  as  ever  wa«  he  is  too,  and  free 
of  his  spondulicks  as  a  prince." 

"I  wish  he  had  stood  treat,"  said  another  loafer ; 

he  did  yesterday  for  all  liands.    They  say,  Jinks 

t'oTCeT  ^'^  ^'  ''^"  y-^<^  at  Tor! 


'•*-.^ 


^n^t  know/' said  Mr.  Jinjks;  «  he  never  said 


nothing  to  me  about  it:  but  he  goes  there  I  reckon, 
'long  with  that  other  black-visaged  chap  that  sto^ 


•4-, 


A  ^ 


o 


156 

here, 
self." 


THE   SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 
He'«  good  enough  for  a  queen,  1  think  ray- 


«» 


Unconscious  of  Mr.  Jinks'  eulogy,  Mr.  St.  Leon 
was  walking  serenely  along  toward  Silver  Stream, 
whistling  still,  stopping  now  and  then  to  pat  the 
children  hemet  on  the  head,  and  throw  them  cop- 
pers.   Short  as  his  stay  had  been  in  the  town,  he  had 
managed  in  that  magical  way  of  his  to  win  golden 
opinions  from  all  sorts  of  people.     From  the  rosy 
giris,  who  fell  in  love  with  his  handsome  face ;  from 
the  young  men,  with  whom  he  was  hail  fellow  well 
met  ;  from  the  children,  whom  he  patted  and  to 
whom   he  threw  the  coppers  ;  from  their  mammas, 
as  a  matter  of  course  ;  and  from  the  loafers,  for 
whom  he  Avas  always  willing  to  stand  drinks  all 
round.  " 

The  world  and  Mr.  St.  Leon  went  remarkably 
well  with  each  other,  and  whistling  all  the  time,  he 
reached  Silver  Stream  in  half  an  hour,  and  threw 
himself  lazily  on  the  bank,  lighted  a  cigar,  and  began 
staring  reflectively  at  vacancy.  Evidently  he  was 
not  a  very  enthusiastic  disciple  of  Iz«ac  Walton,  for 
his  cigar  wa»  smoked  out,  the  stump  thrown  away, 
and  his  fishing-rod  lay  unused  still.  Faust  looked  up 
at  him  wRh  sleepy  eyes,  and  the  young  man  patted 
him  on  the  head.  -> 

"  It's  a  bad  business,  old  boy,"  he  said,  «  and 
hanging,  drawing,  and  quartering  would  be  a  great 
deal  too  good  for  me ;  but  I'll  do  it,  nevertheless. 
It's  fate,  I  suj^se— we'll  say  so,  at  least." 

Iledrew  from  his  pocket  a  note-book  and  tiny 
inkg|^iKl.^FpoTir%etweeirthe  lefTes  of  th^ fdfmer  " 
he  dreyrj,  dainty  sheet  of  note  paper— tinted,  per- 


the 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  157^ 

fumed  gilt-^ged-and,  using  the  note-book  for  a 
^  desk  began  to  write.  The  lett(g  was  in  French 
and  began  « Angel  of  my  Drefms,"  and  in  ten 
minutes  three  sides  were  full,  and  it  was  ended. 
Deliberately  he  re-read,  folded,  i)ut  it  in  an  envelope 
and  was  just  about  to  write  the  address,  when  a 
sudden  voice  at  his  elbow  caused  him  to  look  up 

"  So  absorbed  had  he  been,  that  a  man's  footstep 
coming  through  the  grass  had  not  reached  him,  and 
Dr.  btuart  was  standing  by  his  side,  eveinghini  with 
composure.  .       " 

"Don't  let  me  intrude,"  he  said;    finish   your' 
manuscript  by  all  means." 

"  As  if  I  would  let  a  third  party  glance  at  my 
love-letters!"  said  Leon,  co|blly,  puting  the  docu- 
ment and  note-book  in  his  pocket.  Where  did  vou 
drop  f  rom^  pray  ?  " 

"I  went  to  your  hotel  and  they  told  me  you  were 

here,     replied  Dr:  Stuart,  stretching  himself  on  the 

bank.     «  How  are  you,  Faust,  old  fellow?    Do  you 

know  you  ^^e  expected  at  the  Towers  this  after- 
noon ?  "  ^ 

"  I  have  a  hazy  remembrance  of  promising  to  make 
my  appearance  tTiere  to-day,  a'hd  thought  to  do  so 
to  better  advantagp  by  fetching  a  string  of  silvery 
and  savory  trout;  but  somehow  I  don't  pcoffress 
very  fast."  ^  10, 

"  I  should  think  not,  indeed !   Hand  me  the  line  " 
Mr.  St.  Leon  lazily  did  so,  and  took  a  more  com- 
fortable position  on  the  grass. 

,^"  And  Mg.  are  they  ^  eve^  t^iere^^     lie  askett    - 
"your  lady    mother    and   her  four  ' 

Uuughters," 


fA. 


pretty  step- 


158  THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 

"  Tolerable— that  is,  excepting  Miss  Edith,  who 
has  to  grief  somehow  lately,  it  seems  to  me." 

"Has  she?  It's  ages  since  I  saw  her.  What's 
gone  wrong?"   . 

"A  ghost  has  been  cuttrhg  capers  in  the  shrub- 
bery,  it  appears,"  said  Dr.  Stuart,  gravel}-,  «  and 
has  frightened  her  and  'Florence  out  of  a  year's 
growth."  .\ 

"Indeed!  a  live  ghosf,  I  suppose— probably  that 
very  fast  young  person,  Madge." 

"  I  think  not ;  but  I  know  nothing  about  it,  only 
that  both  got  a  rarei  fright.  Have  you  your  cigar- 
case  about  you  ?  "    ♦ 

Mr.  St.  Leon  iianded  it  to  him,  and  then  helped 
himself. 

"  It  is  not  easy  frightening  Edith  either,"  he  re- 
marked, watching  the  blue  snioko  curl  upward  • 
'*  she  was  born  like  Mrs.  Partington,  before  nerves 
came  m  fashion.  Ilns  the  ghost  caused  all  the  head- 
aches that  have  rendere^l  her  invisible? " 

^'I  fancy  so!  You  are  dejected,  I  suspect,  not 
having  seen  her  for  eight^and-forty  hours.  Look  at 
that  fellow,  how  he  pij^ks  !  " 

"  He'll  break  the  hook  if  you'r^  not  careful.  No 
by  Jove,  you  have  him  !  What  an  anglb-  you  are' 
Stuart !  Dejected-of  course  I  am," and  also  is  an- 
other friend  of  yours,"        \ 

"  Mr.  Angus  Torwo<5d,  our  interesting  and  exces- 
sively brigandish  cousin  ? " 

«  The  same.  The  fellow's  Jjerfectly  infatuated  in 
that  quartei*:" 

":3^  fo"L^^  to  got  the  st^am  i]p.fiQ  higk  abiMtt- 


§■- 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TOlfVOOD.  159 

excuse  giy  saying  it,  lie  #onl(l  suit  Miss  Edith  Tor- 
wood  far  better  than  j-ou."  . 

"Miss  Idith  Torwood  does  not  think  so,"  said  St 
Leon,  smoking  con>j.kicently  on,  "and"  her  opinion's 
ot  some  weight  in  tiio  migter,  I  take  it." 

"How  long  have  you  been  engaged  to  her?    But 
pardon  me;  I  an»  growing  impertinent" 

" IVIyjdear  fellow,"  said  Mr.  St.  Leon,  stifling  a 
yawn,  "make  no. apologies,  I  beg.  Ask  as  many 
(juestions  as  you  please,  and  I'll  answer.  Miss  Edith 
1  orwood  has  been  Jia„c>^e  to  your  humble  servant, 
let  me  see,  u^-ard  of  thre.e  nionths." 

"  Is  that  all  ? "  Dr.  Stuart  said,  watching  thought- 
fully a  nibbling  trout ;  "and  of  all  four  she  is  the 
one  least  suited  to  you.  Florence,  now,"  I  should 
think,  Would  do  ev'^er  s<>  much  better." 

"  All  a  matter  of  choice,  my  dear  Id  low,"  drawled 
St.  Leon;  "perLa^)syou  prefer  blonde  beauties,  and 
perhaps  I  d(m't.  Every  man  to  his  taste.  There, 
you  have  anpther— wha|^4i  wHojiper !  " 

"  Capital  stream,  this  f  ]\[adge  and  I  have  spent 
whole  days  here.  By  the  way,  what  do  vou  think 
ofMadgfc?"  *" 

"  That  she  is  a  very  nice  young  lady,  with  whom 
I  m tend  to  have  nothing  wi^atever  to  do." 

"  You  are  hard  to  please.  I  tliink  you  had  better 
resign  Edith,  and  take  Madge— she  would  make 
a  better  Mrs.  St.  Leon." 

"  I'll  take  four-and-twenty  hours  to  consider  the 
matter.     What  confounded   cigars !     I'll   bring  an 


-ttctiottagaiiret  those  swmdlersal  the  hotel f^^^^ 
ing  society  with  such  execrable   weeds— I  swear 
I  will!" 


■  V 


i» 


«««i'iiiniifii[|iiiii|| 


IMM 


i6o 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


"  I  have  smoked  better  in  ray  time.  Where  is 
Cousin  Angus  to-day  ? "       '  ,■'.       -. 

"  As  if  I  knew  !    Over  at  your  place,  very  likely." 

"  Making  eyes  at  Edith !  Are  you  not  a  little 
,    jealous?" 

"  Not  the  Iteast.  I'm  a  philosopher,  I  flatter  my- 
self, and  a  fatalist,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing,  and 
then  you  know  the  old  rhyme  : 

"  '  So  long  as  she's  content,      ^  ^ 
So  long  I'll  i)rovQ^true, 
And  tlien  if  slie  changes, 
Why,  so  can  I,  too.' " 

(  "  I  wish  she  heard  you ! "  '    ' 

"  She  might !    I  would  say  it  all  the  sanle !  " 
"  You  would  be  a  discarded  suitor  in  five  minutes, 

then !    The  girl  is  proud  as  Lucifer." 
Mr.  St.  Leon  made  ar  slight  grimace. 
"  Don't  I  know  that !    But,  then,  to  counterbalance 

the  fact,  she  really  is  very  fond  of  yours  truly." 
'^  I  know  it,"  Dr.  Stuart  quietly  said ;  "  more*s  the 

pity!" 

Mr.  St.  Leon  looked  at  him  in  calm  inquiry. 

"  My  good  friend,  when  I  resign  Edith,  am  I  to 
resign  her  to  the  future  lord  of  Torwood  Towers  ? " 

"  If  you  mean  me  by  that  title,  no." 

"  Oh,"  said  his  companion,  lighting  another  of  the 

execrable  cigars, "  you  seem  to  take  such  an  interest 

in  the  matter,  I  did  not  know  whether  vou  were  not 

getting  into  the  same  lamentable  state  of  mind 

with  Mr.  Torwowl.    Wise  men  have  turned  fools 


before  to^ay," 
Dr.  Stuart  laughed, 


3C:  I 


'     .t 


V   18 

ily." 
ittle 


my- 
and 


tes, 

nee 
tlie 


[to 

?" 

the 
rest 
not 
ind 

)(3lS- 


7X. 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


.161 


"  There  is  a  commandment  which  says  '  Thou  shalt 
not  covet  thy  neighbor's  goods,'  and  I  always  keep 
the  commandments.  Besides,  it  strikes  me  I  should 
like  a  handsome  Avife.    I  think  I'll  marry  Florence." 

"  She  would  not  ffiive  you ! " 

"  No  ?  Not  even  with  fifty  thousand  dollars  and 
Tor  wood  Towers  throwttin  ? " " 

"  The  bribe  is  heavy — but  no — you  will  never 
marry  Florence!" 

"  Unhappy  wretch  that  1  am !  I  had  been  flatter- 
ing myself  that  lovely  face  wonld  comfort  me  three 
hundred  and  sixty-five  times  a  year  across  the  break- 
fast table,  and  here  are  all  my  high  hopes  dashed  to 
the  earth  at  one  fell  blow.  Is  it  that  I'm  not  good- 
looking  enough  ? " 

That  for  one  thing,  and  besides " 

"  Besides  wtat  ? " 

"  I  thought  Lucy,  the  fair,  the  gentle,  the  sweet, 
was  to  be  the  happy  one."  ^^ 

"  Very  true— I  forgot  Lucy !  ^^  would  you 
li^ehii^Wsdfr'  ,. 

"  I  never  had  mud*  fancy  for  ci:eam  candy ;  it 
doesn't  agree^'With  me ;  but  that's-  no  reason  why,  it 
should  disagre^Hth  others." 

"  Quit^  right !    And  Lucy  i^|^y  pretty — nex: 
Florence,  the  best  Ipoking  of  trnflot." 

"  What  a  lucky  fellow  yoii  are,  Stuart,  to  come 
for  all  that  tin,  and  a  pretty  wife  besides.    That 
mother  of  yours  is  a  clever  woman." 

Sly  St.  Leon !  Looking  under  his  eyelashes,  he 
sa^v  the  doctor  wince,  and  en  joyed  jt^miazingly^ 


f 


"  There's  another !    What  superb  fish  the^  are !, 
Shall  we  go  ?    It  is  dodging  on  for  five  o'clock." 


II 


s 


ipH-^  *'f  PI'S  %  Tcllpn.:^^ 

J^o.^^aJra^  iXtffSr  at  tbe  hota*Jt  will. 


inhalf<--an;.jhour.''    '-    A    m  ;■-  .^ij    '   .  .f^aS^'     ?■ 
^fae  f wo  ^^nteredftcf  '^t^^lL^IS 
|s.  took  Uis  place  ijitheirafSl^s^yS 
r««ml  at  a  2.40  ra*le,  ttiat^my  brought 
^^rr  destination.  ..  ° 

'Sprang/romthelighfe.w^gonthe  eyesc»f 
>*f  t  sight  of  a  white  mttslin  skirt  glancing     . 
m  a^d  put  among  the  trees  near^^fti  hand.    Dr.  Stuart 
}^ked  at  his   compamon   wit|  one  of  his  queer 

.^  The  woman  in  White,"  he  sail  "and  not  Wilkie 
Collins  .  herome  either.  It  is  soii^thing  new  for 
Miss  Florence  to  take  a  constitutional  before  dinner 


I  wonder 


.-t. 


± 


exercise  .not   being  much  in  her  We 

If  she  >aw  us.     Oh,  here  she  comesj  go^andT^y 

your  ^i^espects,  while  'I  convey  the,  trout  to  £ 

•Fair  as'apdet's  vision,  in.  translucent  white,  with 
pale  bluj  nbbons  floating  about  her,  powers  iL  her 

h^T^  fT;  ^""^  ^  ^^"^  ^"^^  S:okl  bo<^  of  poems  in 
her  hand,  FloreAq^e  came  out  from  the  trees,  and  Mr. 
St.  Leon,  nothing  loth,  -went  up  and  joined  her.  Dr 
^tuart  gave  one  backward  glartce,  and  sauntered  on 
to  the  drawing-room,  that  doubtful  smile  of  his 
br^ht^onlnsface.    In  the  hall. ejg^  Edith  coming 

« 

"  Mr.  St.  Leon  is  in  Ihe  grounds 
beijjg^aiting  for  you." 

IBBbowed  low  and  swept . 
gl^Wd  after  the  tall,  straiJ 
fflg^afeHi: — ^  • ■- 


mg^st^ 


\ 


K 


M;  "I  think 


in  silence.     Ho 
figure,  smil- 


TT"^ 


t 


V*  »   > 


^ 


jT^ 


THE   SISTERS  OP  tUwoOD.  163 

"Dr.  Johnson  liked  a  good  hater,"  he  thought- 
Vhutapityhedidnotknoivyoui-"    ■  ^     ' 

Edith  went  down  the  pia,^a  stairs,  and  ouC  into 
the  grounds.     Two  figures  .tood  under  a  spreading 
chestnut,  one  m  floating  ^vhite,  the  other,  St.  Leon 
she  knew;  but  what  could  St.  Leon  have  to  say  so 
very  earnestly  to  Florence.     Neither  saw  o,  heard 
her,  as  she  stepped  ligh^y  over   the  Vielding  sward 
and  W.S  ,t  fancy  or  did  she  really  see  him  hand  her 
something  like  a  letter.     In  another  instant  she  was 
•    near  enough  to  catch  fiis  last  Wijrds. 

•     ,"^^  ^.'*"  ''''^•^''  '^  addlnner  I  shall  take  it  for  a 
token  pf  assent,  and A'> 

He  stopped  shoi^^or  Wrence  had  sprung  away  ' 
with  a  suppressed  startlei^cry,  her  whole  face  turn 
mg  scarlet  ^dith  was  besides  him,  looking  at  them 
both  out  of  her,  powerful  gray  eyes.  Anvthincr 
more  guilty  than  Florence  loWed  could  hardly' exist"- 
but  Mr.  St  Leon,  whom  an\earthquake  cauld  not 
ruffle,  turned  to  greet  her  wiih  constitutional  cool- 
ness.  \ 

".  '^,?  f «"  «li<^*  ^ith  the  sliiers  of  silence,  made- 
moiselle you  have  startled  Ihis  nervous  younS- 
lady  half  out  of  her  wits."  ,  ° 

Edith  Iphed  good  naturedlj-no  shadow  of  sus- 
piitfion;»Tf»fier  mmd. 

"  Don't  bluHi  so  furiously,  m^  pretty  sister ;  it  is 
not  high  treason  to  b^  caught  tJlking  to  Giaccomo 
Comedown   witl^  us' to  the  she 

^Sh^'ould  have  passed  herarih  girl 
hgr  waist,  but  Florence,  he!«  fact  still 


e  for  a  walk." 


•fajshion 
irnin. 


round 


igth 


^ye^^erfred,8hf^way^ 

m  theiold  of  her  dress,  and  thali  something  white 


«f 


;|!t*&'luijiii.'ift>j't"i)» 


a^ 


164  THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 

Edjth  had  seen  St.  Leon  giva.her  was  tightly  crushed 
therein.  / 

"WLatt*  the  matter  with  you?"  Edith  cried 
wonderingly  ;  "  won't  you  come  ?  " 

'•  No,"  said  PTo'rence,  turning  away,  ^'  I  want  to  go 

to  the  house.     I  don't  carq  for  waUcing,  I " 

'  She  did  not  finish  the  sentence  but  walked  away, 
and  Edith  looked  lifter  her  in  the  last  degree  aston- 
ished,    St.  Loon  broke  into  a  low  laugh. 

/'Well,"  said  Editli,  turning  to  him,  "and   what 
.does  it  all  mean  V 

"  That  your  sister  is  a  ^ose,  my  dear.  I  was  pay- 
ing her  compliments,  as  in  duty  botiHd,  when  3»ou 
came  up  and  caught  ns,  and  behold  the  result ;  I 
thought  young  ladies  trained  in  fashiqjiable  board- 
ing-schools linderstood  these  thing§  better !" 

"  For  shame,  sir !  Florence  is  «  *child,  and  you 
decerve  to  have  your  ears  boxed.  Come  fqr  a  Avalk 
before  diiiner." 


/ 


"~N 

i 

1 

% 

W^ 

'       •     ^^ 

■    ' 

■■  '\ 

- 

* 

'  :-^H 

. 

:  \                                 .           ». 

'.  ■"• 

•■#■ 

•i 

fir 

\ 

s. 

- 

4    al< 

' 

\ 
\ 

*^ 

i' 

• 

v^  ■ 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


165 


CHArTER  XIV. 


«^ 


i 


WHAT   THE   MOON    SAW. 

They  went  down  to  the  shore,  and  walked  slowly 
up  and  down  the  sands,  while  Florence,  up  i^faer 
room,  was  reading  a  letter.  The  letter  begaj 
"  Angel  of  my  dreams,"  and  there  was  a  ring  iiL 
closed,  and  as  she  read  she  covered  "her  hot  fa.^ 
with  both  hands,  and  laid  it  down  on  the  table.  It 
was  the  dinner  bell  that  aroused  her  at  last,  and  she 
went  down,  in  a  violent  tremor  still.  All  were  as- 
sembled but  Madge,  and  that  young  person  flashed 
in,  breezy  and  breathless  as  usual,  just  as  they  were 
taking  their  seats.  Miss  Madge  was  in  a  high  st^te 
of  excitement,  and  broke  out  in  shrill  tones  afi- 
"  Only  guess  who  I  met  just  now,  Lucy,  i{f 
coming  from  Tor  wood  town." 

"  My  dear  Madge,  don't  talk  so  loudly.     Ho'w  can 
I  guess  ;  you  met  a  good  many  people,  no  doubt." 

"  Pshaw  !     You  might  try.    I  met  old  Iluldah, 
the  fortune-teller."  ' 

/'What!"  said   Lucy,  looking  interested, 
Huldah  that  used  to  live  in  the  cedar  woods." 
"  That's  her !  "  said  Madge,  who  was  no  way  par- 

" tiGular  about  hw  gi^mman ^«^M  w^as^truttlng^ 

A^    along,  as  if  she  liad  a  pair  of  seven-league  boots  on 
^    a^d  invited  me  to  stc|)^and  |have  my  fortune  told."  ' 


not 


£■)■ 


I 


.>#';■< 


M' 


^. 


■"•(^ 


166 


■m 


KS.Q^^   TOKWOOD. 


"  And  did  you  ?  "  *asked  Dr,  Stuart. 

"  Catoh  me !  I  told  her  I  was  in  a  hurry  for  nil 
dinner,  being  sure  of  a  blowing  up^lf  I  were  late 
and  invited  her  to  call  up  here  some  evening,  and 
predict  for  us  all  in  a  lot.  You  see,  Dr.  Stuart,  I'm 
worried  to  know  which  of  us  you  are  going 'to 
marry,  and-Edith,  what's  the  matter  ? " 

She  might  well  ask.  Edith  had  turned  Ihite^ 
even  to  her  lk)s.  v      ■»'      ' 

^    "Nothing,    she  ariswered,  seeing^m  all  stare,' 
1  do  not  feel  quite  well,  -but  it  is  nothing.     A  glass 
of  water  please." 

'  "I  thought  HuldaU^had  left  here  long  ago,"  said 
Lucy,  filling  Edith 'sghiss.  "JMy  dear  Edith,"  you 
look  dre.^fully  pale  ;  we  will  get  Dr.  8^art  to  j.re- 

"Q^,  she'^  come  back  again,"  cut  in  Madge,  be- 

're.^e  doctor  could  speak.     "Won't   it  be  jolly, 

bough,  if  she  takes  me  at  jny  word,  and  comes  up 

n^tb  tell  fortunes  !  *'  •         ^^ 

^«^Who  is  thiaifuldah  ?  '%ked  St.  Leon.     «  I  hope 

shg  may  come-Iavwft  to^etalfy  fJtuneJpMof 

all- things.".     ^^gP\.  # 

**^  P«^tlf-witte(\raulatro^'  rfepljed  Lucy.  «  A 
slave  oncOpt  Mee  now,  who  goes  wandering  over 
#he*'countp||an<nvhen  here  lives  in  a  wretphed  hut 
^  m  the  cem  woods,  and  supports  herself%y  telling 
fortunes.  Edith,  do  you  feel  better  ? '  You  eat  noth- 
ing." 

."I  am  much  better,  thank  you." 

Madame  Torwood  was  just  opening  her  lips  tn  nt 


ter  a  tirade  against  fortune-telling  when  there  was 
another  shrill  cry  from  Ma<lge : 


'* 

M 


■\   . 


w 


.JSfc 


f^/liM&m^^ 


.  J  V^^V,  ..lV(w.«Ml^fe^,  . 


'M\ 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


167 


i 


'» 

■% 


"  Oh,  Florenqe  !  what  a  nice  ring !    Where  did  it 
come  from  ?    I  never  saw  you  wear  it  before." 

Poor  Florence!     It  never  would  have  done  for 
her  to  beiplaced  in  a  criminal  dock— her  face  would 
have  borne  grievous    witness  against  her.      Once 
agam  it  was  hanging  out  the  red  ensign  of  guilt 
Dr.  Stuart  looked  amused,  Lucy  and  Edith\alf 
smiled  at  her  embarrassment,  and  Mr.   St    Lc^ 
leaned  forward  to  look.     It  was  a  beautiful  ring 
cluster  diamonds  richly  set,  and  bluzed  with  rainbow 
fire  pn  the  plump,  pretty  hand. 

"Very  nice,  indeed,"  was  his  criticism.  «Is  it 
your  engagement  ring,.  Miss  Florence  ? » 

"  As  if  she  would  tell  you,"  said  Madge.  '« Flor- 
ence I  wish  you  would  give  me  a  few  lessons  in 
blushing !     You're  complete  mistress  of  the  art  » 

This  remark  did  not  at  all  tend  to  disminish  the 
scarlet  tide  ebbing  and  flowing  in  the  young  lady's 
face,  and  her  confusion  grew  so  pMnful  that  Luby    ' 
e^er  good-natured,  came  to  the  resiii^m  ' 

"IsMh  Torwood  coming  ovcrlUKmenms  Mr     ^ 
St.  Leon  ?  "  she  asked.  ^W^  /     ^' 

"Can't  say.  Mr.  Torwood  does  not  honor  me 
with  his  confidence." 

"Of  course  he  will,"  said  Madge;  "he  couldn't 
stay  away  if  he  tried,  and  he  doesn't  try,  for  here 
he  is  now,  just  in  time  to  be  late." 

But  Mr.  Torwood  had  dined,  and  had  merely  come 
to  spend  the  evening.  A  very  pleasant  evening  it 
was  with  music  and  cards,  and  conversation  and 


-eibess,  ttiid  the  midnight  nioon  was  high TFthelkv 
when  the  tvp>  young  men  from  Torwoodtown  rode 
leisurely  over  the  hill-side  to  their  hotel. 


l68  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD., 

Florence,  pleading  a  headache,  had  gone  up-stairs 
some  t>yo  hours  previously,  but  when  Edith  entered 
her  room  she  found  it  deserted.  Lucy  crossing  the 
nail,  l^mp  in  hand,  explained  : 

''Florence  is  going  to  stay  in  her  own  room  to- 
night. She  told  me  to  say  her  head  ached  so  she 
could  not  sleep,  and  knew  she  would  keep  you,  from 
sleeping  also.     Good-night ! » 

«  Good-night !  »  Edith  ^id ;  but  instead  of  retir- 
ing, she  went  to  Florence's  door  and  rapped  Flor- 
ence opened  it,  still  in  'her  dinner'dress,  her  cheeks 
yet  hot,  her  eyes  still  humid.  She  shrank  away  as 
she  had  done  in  the  grounds,  at  sight  of  Etlith    ' 

"Don't  ask  me  to  stay  with  you  to-night/'  she 
said  hastily  ;  - 1  always  ^vant  to  be  alone  when  mv 
head  aches."  .  *^ 

"Poor  child,"  Edith  said,  tenderly,  -you are  in  a 
high  fever.    Can  I  do  anything  for  you  ?  " 

"Nothing;  Lucy  did  all  sh«  could.  I  will  be 
better  to-morrow." 

"  Don't  sit  up  then ;  good-night." 

She  turned  away,  and  heard  Florence  close  and 
lock  her  door.  She  did  not  go  to  sleep  though  •  the 
moon,  looking  in  through  the  curtains,  saw  what 
she  was  doing;  but  the  moon,  though  a  female,  can 
keep  secrets,  and  no  one  was  likely  to  be  the  wiser 

What  a  solemn  midnight  nioon !    It  shone  on 
Giaccomo  St.  Leon  sleeping  the  sleep  of  the  just  - 
his  head  on  his  arm,  his  handsome"  face  smiling  in 
ms  drea.iis  ;  it  shone  on  Lucy  and  Madge  slumber- 
ing side  by  side,  .in  the  peaceful  repose  of  youth  and 

-healtb.f4fc-shog^.0H-Div-Siuapt,  on  the  shadouT— 
piazza,  watching  a  dark  figure  prowling  about  the 


It 


t,..*,|i;V^5i 


m:t-'' 


.':^ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


169 


grounds,  a  figure  not  seen  for  the.  first  time  •  it 
shone  on  Edith  walking  up  and  doAvn  her  room 
meditatively  ;  and  it  shone  on  FlQ^ence;  "innocent 
as  a  child,"  sitting  reading  and  re-reading  the  letter 
beginning  "  Ang^l  of  my  dreams." 


vl  . 


•,^1- 


.•■/Hm  •  I'M 


ii^j-^»tr^ 


„*^-a«u . 


■*' 


r' 


^ 


i7t» 


THE   SISTERS  OF:  TORWOOD. 


\ 


v., 


:i 


CHAPTER  XV. 

RESPECTFULLY    DElt^INED. 

It  Avas  a  miserable  morning  in  Torwoodtown.   *It 
had  rained  all  night ;  it  was  raining  strJl ,  a  miserable, 
sulky  drizzle-drizzle,  that  })enelratod  through  every- 
thing, and  was  as  much  Avorse  than  an  honest,  hearty 
downpoHr,  as  moping  and  silence  is  Vorse  than  a 
hot  and  hearty  outburst  of  temper.     The  slcy  was^, 
of  lead,  witliout  one  bright  break  in  its  uniform  dul-*"'     .; 
ness  to  give  promise  of  fairer  weather.-    Tlio  sea*"'      f 
was  of  leaden  gray,  t6o,  and  boomed  on  the  shorA. 
In  long,  hoarse  Ifoars.     The  trees  Avere  dripping  ancf^'"*' 
'sodden ;  pools  of  water  filk^d  the  straggling  street ;     ^ 
the  houses  tiad  pat  bla^and  dismal,  and  comfort- 
less appearance  houses«Srays  Avear  on  rainy  days; 
the  sea  wind  vras  chill  rfml  raw,  and  the  fcsw  pedes- 
.trians  hhrrying  nnder   lirnp  umbrylhis,  to  and  fro, 
looked  bhH!  and  cross,  and  miserable. .   A'\vpe^l>^<l 
morning,  that  niade  you  yawn  drearily,  "jtnd  gave' 
you  the  blues  in  the  dismalle§t  Avay— a  ifliornin^on 
which  you  felt\  damp"  an^l  shivery,  and  everything 
you  touched  seiemed  clammy  and  broTien  out  intd  sv 
sticky  perspiration— a  mopuiilg  trying  to  the  tem- 
pei^— on/^vhich,  if  you  AA'ere  the  lea^  inclined  to  bp 
crabbed  and  cross^it  Avasi.  silf©  to  come  eut,  a^ 


yon ;  mm&  yqufseir  aniT  ever}»Botty,^round  you"e£^~^ . 
quisitely  unhappy.  "'^frV  ^         ,"    „ 


.  s 


% 


*^  *..,«^' 


.5' 


-  *^i  ' 


«  - 


\ 

i 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


171 


It. 

..•** 

.le,  . 

•• 

rty  ^ 
n  a 
ras .. 

It , 

ul-' 
sea 

1 

3t  ;• 
»rt- 

's; 

- 

■ 

cs- 
fed 


LVO 

on 

ia 
m- 

* 

•  1  .> 

bo 

hd 

There  could  have  been  nothing  crabbed  or  cross 
in  the  1»ngelic""t^mperament  of   Mr.  Giacconio  St. 
Leon,  forbn  this  dreary  and  dismal  morning  he  sat 
ip  the  sniokijig-room  of  the  Torwoodtovvn  Hotel, 
hi^  boots  elevated  on  the   window-sill,   his   ihair 
tipped  back,  putting  the  apartment  to  itsh'^ilimate 
use,  and  smoMng  one  after  another  of  the  execrable 
cigars,  until  he  \v*as  quite  lost  to  view  in  clouds  of 
blue  sm6ke.     He  had  asked  for  something  to  read, 
but  the  library  of  the  establishment  'boasted  of  but 
four    volumes— a    Bible    of  tryingly   small   type, 
"Eobinson  Crusoe,"   with  the  beginning  and  end 
torn  oiit,  an  old  English  grammar,  and  a  dictionary. 
None  of  tliese  works  proving  of  very  exciting  in- 
tei'est,  JVfr.  St.  E^on  ,tiad  no  rosourco  biit  smoking 
and  tiiinking,  and  he  ha^l  been  doing  the  former  for 
the  hist *hour  with  an.  energy   worthy  of  a  better 
cause.    As  he  "was  lighting   lu<   ninth  cigar  the 
door  opened,  and  the  landlwd^Jooking  like  an  over 
grown  leach  in  a  long   sbinoy    n\aokiut\>sh   ami 
glazed  cap,  stuck  his  head  through  tV  aperture. 
"  I'm  going  to  the  ^AtotHce,  sir  ;  shall  I  ask  for 

"  I  don't  expect  any  tiling."  m^\  Mr.  St.  Leon  ;»  buto^ 
you  may  ask  all  the  sam«'     \V  here's  JVtr.  Torwooahj  ?' 

V  Writing  in  his  own  room.  Jle^vo  me  thi^g 
letter  to  pflfet."  4 

Mr.  St.  Leon  glanced  at  the  letter— a  most  offi- 
cial-looking dOcumQi^t,  wi^h  an  immense  steal. .  |Ie, 
stared  Its  he  read  tiie  atRlresat  >  » '   ' 

*^To  the.Tron()rable-4i-,v  he'rht^fkod  ^.itT1)^(^lf  gud^- 


^ 


% 


•  ■  * 


£--~-r: 


»V*\.,'^ 


-N 


^.y    . 


^  deftly.    "'Np\y,  what  fctjc  deutfe  kas^  Torwood  t6  do  .-   , 
^;  with  the  'W^D'epiirtm^$t  at  Washington  ?  "y,     ;    '^l* 


■,» 


172 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


y 


Tlie  landlord  went  off,  and  the  3'oung  gentlematt 
sat  smoking  and  staring  at  the  steahied  and  bl Wed 
window,  and  revolving  the  last  .question  over  in  hi^. 
mind.  Before  he  could  objtain  any  satisfactory  ^2^^r 
swer  tp;  it,  mine  host  vsras  back  w*^th  two  le^tersr6ne 
Rearing  a  foreign  topstraark,  bordered  ^nd  sea|ed 
with  black ;  the  otiier  a  tiny  aflFair,  superscribed ^i^n 
a  dainty  schoolgirl  hand.  \ 

"  Blessed  are-  they  who  shall  expect  nothing,  foV 
thej  shall  not  be  disappointed,"  saad  St.  Leon  ;  "  are 
either  of  these  for  me?  " 

"This  little  one  is— a  love-letter,  I  expect,  by  the  , 
look  of  it,"  said  Boniface,  handing  it  over ;  "  this  1 
'ere  other  one  is  for  Mr.  Torwood,  and  comes  from 
foreign  parts.     Some  of  his  folk«,  I  expect,  is  dead." 
"Postmarked  Cuba,"  said  St.  Leon,  looking  at  it. 

'^  \  wonder But  it's  no  affair  pf  mine.     Who 

is  this  small  epistle  from,  I  should  like  to  know  ?  " 
"It  doesn't  come  as  far  as  Mr.  Torwood's,'*  said 
the  landlord,  knowingly ;  "  it's  postmarked  in  the 
town." 

"  You  had  "better  send  Mr.  Torwood  his  letter, 
my  friend,"  remarked  Mr.  St.  Leon  quietly,  and  as 
the  man  went  off  he  looked  at  the  delicate  writing 
again.  "  '  Giaccomo  St.  Leonj  Esquire,  Torwood^ 
town  Hotels' — that'sall  right ;  but  who  is  the  writer '( 
Not  Edith  ;  h^  fine,  decided  chirography  is  noth- 
ing like  J^his  fairy-like  tracery.  Can  it  be— by 
Jove!     I've  hit  it!"  ^ 

It  was  a  very  unconfhion  sightijjj^hold  the  usu- 
ally  phlegmatic  QiaccPmo  St.  Leo^afeited,  but  for 


onre-Trr  iiw  hTe  lre^isniie"vef3r  near  it  now.  •  His 
handsome  face  flushed,  and  he  tore  off  the  envelope, 


t( 


I 

S( 


fc 


y 


V    ■  <v   ■■  ■ 

THE  SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD.  173 

and  devoured  the  contents  in  two  seconds.  It  was 
brief,  only  two  little  pages,  but  he  read  and  re-read- 
these  at  least  a  dozen  times,  his  face  fairly  radiant 
with  delight.  As  he  was  going  through  it  for  the 
thirteenth  time,  the  dool-  abruptly  opened,  and 
Angus  Torwood  stood  before  him,  his  dark  face  a 
shade  paler  and  graver  than  usual.  His  keen  eye 
fell  on  the  rose  colored  billet,  and  on  the  ecstatic 
fjice  of  the  reader,  with  a  glance  that  seemed 'to 
pierce  his  thoughts.  St.  Leon  hastily  crumpled  it 
in  his  hand,  and,  his  customary  coolness  came  back. 

"  No  bad  news,  I  trust,  Mr.  Torwood  ?    Old  Hurst 
brought  you  a  letter  in  mourning." 

"Bad  enough,"  said  Mr.  Torwood,  with  cold  ab- 
ruptness; "Madame  R#siere^  is  dead." 

St.  Leon  rose  hastily,  with  a  face  full  of  concern 

"  Madame  Rosiere,  Edit^'j  aunt,  dead !    Is  it  pos- 
sible ?    When  did  she  die? ^' 

"Three  weeks  ago,  of  yellow   fever.     Hurst—I 
say.  Hurst—  where  are  y<^^{  " 

"  Here,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Hlirst,  making  his  appear- 
ance. ,  r  ^^ 

,  "  Have  my  horse  gadded  and  brought  round  at 
once." 

Mr.  Hurst  hurried  off  to  obey,  and  St.  Leon  rosQ. 
to  leave  the  room. 

"  'Are  you  for  the  Towers  ?  "'ho  asked.  ^ 

^*Iam."  \        % 

"Be  good  enough  to  tell  Edith-to  tell'  har  that 
I  will  be  over  in  the  c».||se  o^the  day.  I  am  very 
sorry  to  hear  of  Madnnto  Uoaierg's  df^nth 


Mr.  Torwood  made  no^e^ly-he  cared  verv  little 
for  talking  to  his  Oouainl^etpoth^d  at  any  time, 


S 


••I- 


-r 


174  THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWO0D. 

ana  on  this  particular  morning  he  was  unusually 
silent  and  stern.  Hurst  made  his  appearance  with 
.  the  horse,  and  he  was  leaving  the  room  when  his 
eye  fell  on^  something  St.  Leon  had  droppe*  He 
picked  ,t  up,  a  look  of  fier/e  joy  flashed  over  his 
swarth  face,  and  thrusting  it  in  his  pocket,  he  strode 
out,  mounted,  and  dashed  through  the  town  at  a 
furious  rate.     Mr.  "Hurst,  with  his  hands  deep  in 

Jus  trousers  pockets,  looked  ttfter  him  with  an  ad- 
minng  eye.    '  ■     • 

"  What  a  cove  that  is  on  horseback !    He'll  be  at 
the  Towers  in  fifteen  minutes  if  he  keeps  that  'ere  ' 

Mr.  Torwood  did  keep  it  up,  and  reached  the  old 
house  in^a   v<3ry  short   time.     Going    up-stairs  he 
found  Lchth  in  the  hull,  looking  out  of  the  oriel 
^yindow  at  the  <Irear  July  day,  Avit&  something  of 
Its  glooiji  in  her  face.     She  had  been  alone  and 
lonely  all  day.     Florence  seemed  to  avoid  her  per- 
versely ^ver  sincathat  evening  in  the  «hruW,ery 
twoda^^^agono^;  she  had  visibly  shrank  from  her 
and  Ldith  was  far  too  proud  to  force  herself  on  any 
one.    lor  the  society  of  Lucy  or  Madgeshe  did  not 
care,  and  she  avoided  the  drawing-room  steadfastly 
for  either  Mudatne  Torwood  or  her  son  were  con- 
stantly there.     Both  were  there  now,^and  Lucy  was 
at  the  juitno,  touching  tiie  keys  so  softlythat  the 
murmur  of  the  surf  could  distinctly  be  heard  above     : 
tfie  low  tones  m  which  she  -^vas  sitiging  "  What  are 
t^eWildWavesSayirig?"  Edith  was  listening  to     ' 
the  sweet  loyr  toice,  and  watching  the  drizzling  rail 
bhatcnng  the  wiiiduus;  but  sho  turned  from  botL 
with  u  loot  ^Of.  intefts^lrelief;  at  A  welikhhv^ 


liiitiiiiii'. 


:i 


■fe«'- 


^H%> 


',f- 


■/ 


DWiC" 


.♦.», 


«*• 


si 


w 


.«    ._  .»  . 


^ 


^K 


"^ 


V 


THE   SISTERS,  OK   TOKWOOD.  175 

Step  ana  hekl  out  her  hand  ^o  her  cousin,  Avith  a 
breath  of  rehef.  . 

V,  l',^>  f"fr  •'   ^'^^^^  «*^^*^  I  ^"^  t«  «ee  your    I  am 
nalt  (leatl  ol  loneliness  tiiis  dismal  (Uiy  •»  "  ' 

He  just  touched  tl.o  frankly^.xtended  ha*d,  and 
stood  beside  her  in  dark  .siloncf  looking  out  .^t  the 
ncutr^'''''  ''"^  trees  and  gloomy  sky,  and  seeing 

Slie  looked  at  him  with  u'Jst/ul  eves.  "  What  is 
It,  Angus  ?    IIas,anytliing  gone  wrong  r' 

"Yes.''  t  ■  '      ,. 

Still  that  wistful  g;uo ;  hut  still  looking  at  the 
pale  blank  of  wet\and  mist,>e  seemed  no  way  in- 
clmed  to  speak,  and  she  would  not  ask  further  Sh^ 
turned  her  eyes  from  his  darkly  gloomy  face  to  the 
windpw  vjiith  a  lo w  sigh.        •  Jj^ , 

r„wTl   .       ^'  ''  all  is  here.  -Oh.,  my  beautiful 

Cuba    that  any  one  should  leave  yoii"for  this  cold, 

.,  bleak  land  ? "  •  ' 

She  drew  a  scarlet,  shawl  she  ^Vor'e  closer  around 
,  her  with  a  shiter.     Lucy's  song  ilied  out  like  a  sigh 

and  Angus  Torwood  looked  at  his  .conipanion  Jo; 
the  first  time.  <>""  •  ^ 

"  You  .would  like  to  go  back  to  Cuba,  then  ?  » 

"Like  It ! "^she  repeated.     "  ()li . ^^^  ^^^^^ 

she  stopped,  but  her  face  finished  the  sentence 
"Jure  you  not  happy  i  '•' 

V,"  flow -pan  I  he-in.the^amo  house  with  that 
woman  and  lier  son  ?" 
"But  your ^si^s,-  with  a   grim   smile:    -  ynu 

^r^lTfrt     lifi    till  mv9vtv     j^j  i  t  ♦■     T  I       *        wn       '•••     ■■,  ■       ■    ■■■-.■  —  ■■  ——...2— — .-^.^sA.~ 


$ 


/.f 


fciiuuld  b«  happy  with  theln." 

Sboshruggdd  lier  sboujders  in  her  foreign  waVs 

,:  J3ah!  we  a?e  strangers  to  each  other,  and  muH 


^ 

U 


'i  , 


'm: 


i:^  «W'»  .* .  *i 


■'jsS 


!  / 


176 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


4^ 


always  be  so.  Even  Florence,  whom  I  could  love — 
but  never  mind.  Oh,  for  ni v  Cuban  home,  where  I 
was  always  loved  and  happy  !  "  ..-  ^ 

«  %hen  did  vou  hear  fTolkCuba ? " 

"  Not  yet ;  I  expect  a  letter  every  day." 

"  From  your  aunt  ? "  W 

"Yes;  d€ar,  dea/aimt!  I  wondef  if  she  misses 
me  much  ?" 

"No,  Edith." 

He  spoke  so  solemnly  that  she  looked  up  in  sur- 
prise. ■      I 

"  What  did  you  say,  Angus  ? " 

"  Your  aunt  does  not  miss  you — she  never  will 
miss  any  one  again  in  this  world ! " 

She  grew  white,  and  looked  at  him  with  startled 
eyes,  but  still  she  did  not  comprehend. 

"  Angus,  what  are  you  saying  ?  What  do  you 
mean  ? " 

lie  drew^  a  letter  from  his  pocket,  edged  and 
»QSirled  with  black. 

"  The  letter  you  expected  has  come,  Edith !  Here 
it  is!" 

She  looked  at  it  fearfully,  but  made  no  effort  to 
take  it.  Her  startled  eyes  were  still  fixed  on  his 
ominous  face,  her  own  turning  whiter  and  whiter 
kill. 

"  Angijs,  I  don't  understand.     I  am  afraid  to  un 
derstand  !    Tell  me  tht>*  all  are  well  at  Eden  Lawn," 

"  I  cannot.     Tak<*  your  letter." 

"  Angus ! " 

He  laid  the  let^ter  on  tho  window-srll,  folded  his 
ariv.B,  i'.nd  atood  #yi , odily  ,r    .it   lookiiij^  out.     Tfee^ 


whole  truth  oam6  //  her  at  '/^;e  like  a  flash 


**. 


'»  f 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


177 


"  Angus  !  "  she  cried  put,  "  som^  one  is  dead !  " 

"Yes!" 

She  sniitched  u'p  the  letter';  there  was  no  ipore 

hesitation  uo\\\  and  tlie  next  moment  she  knew  what 

she  had  lost,     l^nowing  how  she  had  loved  her  dear 

.aunt.    Angus  Tor  wood  stood  bracing  himself  for  a 

scene.    lie  might  have  known,  his  cousin  "^ith, 

better.     Neither  word,  nor  cry,"nor  teai*  followed— 

'  she  stood  as  if  turned  to  stone.     White  as  a  spirit, 

,she  leaned  against  the  window,  with  a  look  in  her 

eyes  that  frightened  him.. 

"I  should  have  prepared  you  for  this,"  he  ex- 
claimed ;  "  the  shock  has  been  too  much  £^r  you ! 
Edith,  you  are  going  to  faint." 

{le  really  thought  she  was,  she  had  become  ao   ' 
deadly  pale,  but  she  answered  quietly  :  ,/ '    ,• 

"  No." 

"  You  see  you  have  no  home  in  Cuba  now." 

"I  understand." 

lie  looked  at  her.     Something  had  gone  out  of  her 
face,  not  color,  for  she  was  always  pale,  but  all  its  -' 
brightness  had  faded,  and  a  sort  of  gray  shadftw  had 
fallen  in  its  place.    There  were  no  tears  in  thelafgt 
dark  eyes,  but  something  far  sadder  than  any  reliev- 
ing, tears  could  have  been.     Edith  Torwixxl  was  onV 
of  those  unfortunate  women  who  cannot  weep,  wh( 
sit  like  a  stone  until  the  pain  at  their  heart  wear 
itself  out. 

"  Edith,"  he  said,  "  you  will  die  here !    Come  with 
ipe,  and  let  me  make  you  a  home  where  you  will  be 


iJi. 


She  looked  at  him,  not  understanding. 
"  Ymiy  Angus !  " 


^178 


THE   SISTERS  OF    TORWOOD. 

"Asiny  wife,  Edith  !^ 

It  was  out  then  !  UM  a  bullet  struck  Her,  she 
could  not  have  started  more  violently,  or  sprang 
away  more  quickly.  One  glance  at  his 'face  and  she 
rea,d  what  iiad  been  plain  to  others  so  long. 

"Oh,  Angus!"  she  -cried,  in  a  voice  full  of  re- 
proach. 

"  AYcU,"  he  sai(l,  bitterly,  "is  it  a  crime?     /im  I  ' 

to  consider  that  look  of  horror  as  my  dismissjtl  ? " 

"Angus,  I  did  not   expect    this   from   ymi-yoii 

whom  I  have  loved  as  a  brother !  "    \  ' 

"Tou  are  very  kind  !     But  T  want  no  brotherly 

love !     Out  wif  h  the  answert-yes  or  no  ?  " 

"  ^o,  then  !  "  she  said,  coldly,  turning  away.  ^ 

His  face  turned  dark  red,  and  then  nearly  li\-i^. 

"  And  is  it  for  that  little  popinjay— that  perfumed  - 

dandy,"  ho  said,  setting  his  teeth  "hard,  "  that  I  am'' 

refused!     For  that  miserable,  brainless  fop,  whom 

I  could  lay  low  in  tlie  kennel  any  day  if  I  pleased  ! "  ^ 

"  Angus,"  she  said,  facing  him,  wifih  the  look  ^  a 

^  tigress  m  lier  eyes,  "  are  you  ^oing  tiTad  ?  f 

"  I^r  that  false  and  cowardly  villain,"  he  went 

on,  not  heeding  her,  "'  who  cares  so  little  for  hei'  that 

he  leaves  her  for  the   pink  and  white  face  of  that 

fjU  simpleton  in  there,  she  refuses  me." 

.  "Angus  Torwood,  what  are  you  daring  to  say?" 

"  The  truth,  my  fair  colisin  !  "  he  answered,  with 

bitter  scorji.     *'  I  Wive  the  .pleasure  of  announcing 

that  this  pretty  little^pollo  of  yours  has  cast  you 

off,  jilted  you—how  do  you  like  the  word  ?  -for  that 

'  great  inanity  in  white  muslin  and  yellow  curls!" 

^fi-  lo^'kff^l  .at JUim  ia^ilenc^;.  ^mwiW- ten-ibl  V  "-" 
riiUo     „„,!    4.1. „   x- •  ,,,",.,?..*=  .  -^    , 


*• 


\  ■      h( 


white,  and  the  tigori^h  look  still  glaring  in  her 


\ 


THK   SISTERS   OK  TORVVOOD.  iji) 

eyes.     But  her  vojcc  ube.i  she  spoke    ^vus  steady  " 
and  calm.  .,  -^ 

"  It  is  -false  !  "  she  said,  still  watcl.in-  him     ^«  f 
did  not  think  a  Torwood  could  stoop  to  lie  !" 
~   ''Werevoua  man  yoii^i)evef>oul(l  repeat  that 
word  ;  as  it  is-"     JJe  drew    out  a  crumple.!  pink 
note  from  h.s  pocket,  and  spreadino.  it  out,  pointed 
to  the  last  pa^je.    ."  Read  that !  " 

She  looked.  "My  own  dear  Florence,"  were  the 
words  she  saw,  and  th^nher  eyes  were  once  again 
riveted  to  his  face.  '  *= "" 

■  ^     "Well?"  was  all  she  said.  ,      " 

'7if"L^r"^    r^   P'"'"''^''  -^'"^  ^^^'   Miss, Torwood. 
,       •  .,•  .    r  'l''Oj>ped  this  pretty  little  missive,  end- 
ing,   Wholly  tlvinc,  Floi^e,'  this  morning,  arid  1 
brought  It  here  to  convi^  you  of  his  perfidy  and     , 
^    the  treachery  of  the  .sister  \ou  love.     Take  it  and 
re|d  It  to  tiie  end,  and  see  if  any 'doubt  remains." 

'  No,"  she  said,  drawing  back  with  cold  contempt; 
moregalhngbyfar  than  anything,  else  could  have 
been ;  "  I  leave  acts  like  that'  for  Angus  Torwood 
I  am  not  in  the  habit  of  purloi„i„^^other  ^eopleV 
letters  and  reading  them  by  stealth." 

His  swurth  face  ^<•as  white  as  death,  bis  feyes  burn- ' 
mg  like  black  flame.  -^       •  „  ■        . 

"And  this  is  all  yQu  hSe  to  say*?"  he  askecl 
hoarsely.  c  ,  '  » 

"All !      Except  that  of  all  creatures  on  God's 
earth  I  despise  Angus^  Torwood  most." 
^  She  swept   past  hn^^atheringuji  her  flowing 
skirts,  as  if  to  toud^^pwere^  Oojitamination',  and 

passed  into-  tlm  tTr^**^" '— — ~ 

oath,  only  half  supp 


,    •*    Wilh  a  terrible" 
he  strode  down-stairs, 


<^  \ 


f\{ 


1 80 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TOR  WOOD. 


.^-c^' 


and  live  minutes  afterward  was  dashing  back  tc>  Tor- 
woodtown,  as  if  he  and  his  horse  had  both  gone  mad. 
Edith,  entering  the  (h-awing-room,  looked  for 
Florence  ;  but  Florence  was  not  there.  Lucy  turned 
her  face  from  the  piano  in  surprise. 

"Has  Mr.  Tor  wood  really  gone,  Edith?    What 
makes  you  look  so  pale  ? " 

"  Mr.  Torwood  has  gone,"  was  the  quiet  answer. 
"  Where  is  Florence  ? '' 
"  I  don't  know  ;  down-stairs  somewhere,  I  think." 
Edith  turned  and  went  cjown-stairs,  and  in  the 
glance   Dr.   Stuart  cast  after  her  there  was  half 
amusement,  half  pity.     On  her  way  she  met  Madge. 
"  Have  you  see  Florence  ?  "  she  asked. 
"  Yes,     La !  how  pale  you  are !  " 
"  Where  is  she  ?  " 

"  Not  three  miles  from  the  pantry.    What  ails 
you  ?    You  look  like  a  ghost !  " 

But  Edith  was  gone,  making  straight  for  the 
house-keeper's  room,  or  what  had  been  the  house- 
keeper's r<k)m,  when  such  a  lady  had  been  employed 
at  Torwood  Towers.  The  pantry  door  stood  half 
open,  and  there  sat  Miss  Florence  before  a  little 
table,  with  a  tow  of  little  plates  before  her,  filled 
with  pink  .slices  of  ham,  morsels  of  cold  chicken, 
delicate  cuts  of  cake,  and  wedges  of  pies,  so  ab- 
sorbed in  gormandizing  that  she  neither  heard  nor 
saw  her  watching  sister.  Anything  less  romantic 
could  not  have  been  imagined,  and,  in  spite  of 
everything  that  had  passed  that  morning,  some- 
thing  like  a  ^mile  dawned  on  Edith's  grkve  face.  It ' 
~Was  gonieiTn  a  moment,  and  so  was  she,  shut  up  in~ 
'\lier  own  room  with  her  own  dreary  thougl|"6s. 


'l\f' 


? 


THE   SISTE 


itS^^F 


TORWOOD.. 


181 


It  \v^  a  miserable  djudpThe  storm  of  wind  and 
rain  increased  ^very  hcw^nd  lashed  the  windows 
ceaselessly.  The  dull  moan  of  the  sea  was  not 
more  dismal  than  Edith's  musings  sitting  at  her 
storjn-beaten  window.  She  did  not  descend  to  din- 
ner, and  Lucy,  ever  thoughtful  and  anxious  for  others, 
brought  up  something  on  a  tray  ;  but  Edith  would 
not  eat.  She  was  waiting  for  St  Leon — she  felt 
she  could  not  rest  again  u^itil  she  had  told  him  all 
and  heard  his  explanation.  But  the  long  day  passed, 
and  Mr.  St.  Leon  tlid  ijot  come ;  evening,  gray  and 
eerie,  fell,  and  still  he  was  absent ;  night,  black, 
wet,  and  wild,  followed,-  and  yet  St.  Leon  was,  far 
awa}'.  ^^J^ 

Kneeling  down  by  h^  bedside  that  night  to  pray, 
Edith  laid  her  sorrowful  face  on  her  pillow,  and 
felt  it  grow  wet  with  her  tears.  So  long  she  knelt, 
that  the  dawn,  lifting  a  leaden  eye  over  the  stormy 
sea,  next  morning,  found  her  kneeling  there  still. 
As  on  the  night  of  her  arrival,  Edith  Torwood  had 
(Tried  herself  to  sleep  like  a  ,child. 


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THE  ,SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


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CHAPTER  XYI. 

THE  SHADOW  OF  WIIAT  WAS  TO  COMK. 

Who  can  account  for  presentiments-those  strange 
foreshadowings  of  the  future-those*  mysterious 
liftings  for  a  second  of  the  vail  of  futurity,  that 
come  sometimes  to  evety  human  soul.  Like  comets 
they  come  and  go,  and  who  can  account  for  them' 
.  Truly,  there  are  more  things  in  heave*n  and  earth 
than  are  dreamed  of. in  our  philosophy. 

Cold  and  cramped  and  unrefrfeshed,  Edith  Tor- 
wood  arose  from  her  comfortless  resting-place,  in 
.the  gray  and  dismal  dawn  of  the  next  day     Be- 
^ylldered  at  first  at  the  strange  position  in  which 
she  founa  herself,  she  looked  round  the  familiar 
room,  only  conscious  of  a  dreary  weight  at  her 
heart.    It  all  came  back  to  her  in  a  moment-the 
miserable  yesterday-and  with  a  long,  shivering 
sigh  she  arose  and  went  to  the  window.     Her  sen 
sitive   nervous  temperament    made  her  so  acutely  '^ 
sensible  to  the  weather's  changes,  that  to  her  sun 
shme.was  a  matter  almost  of  life  and  death.     No 
sunshine  to-day,  however.     Yesterday's  rain  had 
fended,  but  left  behind  a  teaden  and  lowering  skv  a 
steaming  and  soaking  earth,  a  gr^y  and  |loom^ 
se^    Spu'itlessly  she  turned  from  the  dull  prospect, 
^mechanically  wenrarough  the  busings  ofheT^ 
toUet  a»d  morning  prayers,  and  then,  sitting  down 


{ 


•  J 


'  :^ 


THE  SIItERS  of   TORWOOD. 


183 


the  window,  watched  the  dark  and  moaning  sea, 
her  thoughts  far  awieky. 

The  house  was  very  still,  but  as  her  watch  pointed 
to  the  hour  of  seven  there  was  a  tap  at  her  door, 
and  Lucy's  quiet  face  looked  in. 

Edith  turned  her  dark  grave  gaze  from  the  win- 
dow to  the  door,  with  no  smile  of  greeting  ;  gentle 
Lacy  was  no  favorite  of  hers. 

"  May  I  comein  ?  "  the  elder  sister  hesitatingly 
inquired. 

'^Oertainly,  Miss  Torwood." 

"  Oh,  "Edith  !  not  that,"  Lucy  cried  ;  "not  Miss 
Torwood.     Are  we  not  sisters  'i " 

"  Will  you  be  seated?  "  was  Edith's  cold  answer, 
pointing  to  a  chair. 

"  N<|  thank  you.  -,L-scarcely  have  time.  I  only 
ran  in  going  past  to  sec  if  your  headache  was 
better."  -   \  . 

Edith  had  forgotten  the  headache  she  had  pleaded 
last  evening — heartache  would  have  been  nearer 
the  mark,  and  the  pain  was  there  still.  She  turned 
h6r  dark  face  once  more  the  sea  to  shut  oq^'  the 
anxious  look  in  Lucy's  blue  eyes.  * 

"  My  headache  is  quite  well." 

"  You  do  not  look  well,  then.  I  am  afraid  you 
are  homesick — pining  for  Cuba."       ' 

Oh,  that  word  !  It  so  vividly  brought  back  all 
she  had  lost,  that  the  pain  at  her  heart  nearly  drove 
her  wild,  liut  in  the  averted  face  Lucy  saw  noth- 
ing. She  stood  looking  at  her  with  the  air  of  6ne 
wishing  to  say  something,  and  hesitating  for  fear  of 
giving^  crfl^ffi5e ;  and  Edith  tioticingTieT  sTleffCe,  at^ 
length  turned  round,  and  read  the  look  aright. 


r'-'.' 


•  t 


s*^    sis'- 


ftr- 


"•v. 


184 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TOrWoOD. 


"   ''  You  have  something  to  say  to  me,"  she  abruptly 
exclaimed  ;  "  What  is  it?"  , 

'<  You  will  not  be  offended?  "    ' 
--%%jiatisit?" 

"  "Why  did  you  not  tell  us  yesterday  your  cousin, 
Angus  was  going  a\V;igLy4  " 

"  Going  away ! "    Edftli  echoed  ;  ^'  has  be- 


gone she  was  going  to  say,  but  she  checked  herself 
in  time. 

"  lie  wont  at  nopn  yesterday  in  the  steamer  for 
Baltimore;  I  heard  Doctor  Stuart  and  Mr.  St.  Leon 
talking  abowtNt  last  night." 

"  Liist  night ! "  cried  Edith  facing  round  with  sud- 
,den  energy;  «  wa$  Mr.  St.  Leon  hero  last  night?  » 
"  "^^es,"  said  Lu^y,  quietly ;  he  spent  the  evening 
here.  I  wished  toilet  you  know  ;  but  as  you  had  a 
headache,  he  said  he  would  hot  have  you  disturbed, 
and  would  call  ov(jr  early  this  morning  again." 

The  powerful  ey«Js  of  Edith  were  fixe  jK^  strange 
intensity  on  her  sifter's  face,  and  her  fldWooked  as 
if  it  were  petrified  Jin  its  severity,  bi<t^  she  said  noth- 
ing when  Lucy  ceafeed— only  turned  to  the  window 
again  ;  and  still  LJicy  lingered,  with  that  look  of 
something  to'  say  sjtill. 

"  My  dear,"  she  began,  with  a  face  of  absolute 
distress  is  her  uncertainty,  «  I  have  something  else 

to  tell  you,  but ^"a    pause,  and   Edith  slowly 

turned  her  rigid  fac*  round  to  listen. 
"Whatis  it?"     1 

"  I  am  not  sure  tUat,  I  should  tell  you,  and  yet  I 
think  you  ought  to  hbar." 
^•^ Will  you  speak  ^ '    Edith  cri©*,  her  voice  ho^ 


sharp  and  harsh  with  that  inward  pain  that  Lucv 


"T^ 


■j»' 


THE  SISTERS 


OF  TORWOOD. 


I8S 


scarcely  knew  it ;  or  are  you  torin0iiting  me  on  pur- 
pose ?     Speak  out,  I  tell  you  ;  I  am  no  cliiUl." 

"  It  is  this,  then,"    said  Lucy,  h^r  sweet  tones  in, 
vivid  contrast  to  the  excited  one  oflthe  other;  "  Mrv 
St.  Leon  and  Mr.  Torwood  metbefot"e  he  went  away, 
and  quarreled,  and — ^"  1 

"  Fought !"  cried  Edith,  springing  with  a  rebound 
to  her  feet ;  fought  and^ "    Her  whitening  lips' 


Edith!  oh, 


would  not  finish  the  sentence* 

"  And  neither  is  hur^  at  least,  badly. 
Edith  !  sit  down,  you  will  faint." 

"  Speak !  speak !  speak  !  "  Edith  shrilly  cried  ; 
"  speak,  I  tell  you,  or  I  shall  die !  " 

"  I  will  speak!  I  will  tell  you  all— everything ! 
only  sit  down." 

She  did  sit  down,  but  her  wild,  startled  eyes  never 
left  Lucy's  face.  Long  after,  in  the  dark  days 
to  come,  Lucy  remembered  that  look— the  wild, 
frightened  look  of  a  deer  with  the  knife  ait  its 
throat.  *  ■ 

t"  This  was  the  way  of  it,"  Lucy  said,  averting  her 
n  eyes  from  that  burning  intense  stare.  "  I  mean 
way  I  heard  it.  Yesterday  after  Joe  Jinks,  who 
is  hostler  over  hi  Torwoodtown  Hotel,  came  here 
with  oysters.  I  wanted  to  speask  with  him  about 
something  or  other  before  he  left,  and  went  after  him 
to  the  kitchen.  He  and  our  coachman,  Peters,  were 
alone  there  talking  very  earnestly,  and  from  the  first 
I  became  so  interested  that  I  involuntarily  stopped 
to  listen.  Joe  was  speaking  of  Angus  and  Mr.  St. 
Leon.  I  know  he  meaat  thern^  though  he^desi^ 
nated  them  as  the  '  black  chap  and  t'other  gent.'  " 
■  At  any  other  time  Edith  would  have  smiled  at 


1 86  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOb. 

-  the  gravely  simple  way  Lucy  repeated  Mr.  Jiiiks' 
epithets,  but  she  was  in  anything  but  a  sj/ihng 
humor  now,  and  held  her  breath  in  her  earnestness^ 
and  Lucy  went  on  : 

"  The  black  chap,  he  said,  came  riding  Koine  as  if 
there  were  imps  after  him,  some  time  in  the  morning, 
and  immediately  sought  out  Mr.  St  L^bn,  who  was 
readmgin  the  smoking-ro^.    He,  Joe,  who  chanced 
to  be  near  the  willow,  saw  him  throw  a  crumpled 
piece  of  pink  paper  at  the  other's  feet,  and   begin 
using  very  abusive  and  violent  lan'guage.    Joe's  de- 
scription- .of  his  appearance  to  I^ete  was  that  he 
;  looked  like^mL:^ick  in  a-gaW  ^^  wind,'  but  the 
other  gent  took  it  uncon^mpnly^^sy,  until  the  black 
chap,  proyoked^t  his  calmness/ struck  him  across 
the  face  with  his  riding-Avhip."  / 

There  was  a  suppressed  exclamation  from  Edith, 
Lucy  waited  for  an  instant  and  then  went  on : 

"  He  got  up,  Joe  said,  at  thaJ,  very  pale,  but  quiet 
still,  and  said  something  to  Mr,  Torwood.  Joe  had 
caught  none  of  the  conversation,  violent  as  it  had 
been,  and  the  two  went  up-staiite.  Fifteen  minutes 
after  there  was  j^  repbtt-<^v(L  pistol  shots  in  Mr 
St  Leon's  room,  and  all  rush^trVJn  alarm  to  find 
out  what  was  the  matter.  The  door  w^ioc%l,  and 
whilfe  they  were  trying  to  burst  ii  open,  the  key 
turned,  and  Mr.  St.  Leon  made  iis  appearance,  as 
self-possessed  as  ever,  and  requested  him,  Joe  said, 
*  not  to  make  such  a  confounded  row.'  Mr  Tor- 
wood  was  leaning  against  the  oppo^te  wall,  his  right 
arm  hanging  powerless  by  his  side,  Ut  St.  Leon  was 
-anhurt."  ^ 


Still  Edith  did  not  speak-still  thk  burning  gaze 


j: 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


187 


^ 


.«». 


/ 


of  inquiry  was  bent  on  Lucy,  and  Lucy  composedly 
Avent  on : 

"Mr.  Torwood's  arm  was  broken,  and  Joe  said  if 
lie  bad  been  Mr.  St.  Leon's  brotber  he  could  not  have 
been  more  anxious  about  hjm,  but  Angus  woulo 
neither  look  at  nor  speak  to  him.  The  arm  was  set 
iind  bound  up,  ami  then,  in  spite  of  all  persuasions, 
he  took  passage  on  board  the  steamer,  and  is  by  this 
time  no  doubt  in  Baltimore."  ,  a^ 

Lucy  stopped  with  the  air  of  one  who  had  finished^.  . 
her  story,  and  Edith,  with  that  altered  voice,  spoke*  ?^'  '■ 
at  last:       '  v  '   i  ,  >, 

"  And  Mr.'  St.  Leon  was  here  last  night.  Does  he 
bear  the  mark  of  Angus  Torwood's  blow  ? " 

"  Yes,"  said  Lucy,  coloring  deeply,  « there  is  a 
livid  welt  across  his  forehead.  Madge  asked  him  in 
her  free,.way  what  he  had  been  doing  to  himself, 
and  he  told  her  he  had  run  his  head  against  the  tele- 
graph wires  as  he  came  along." 

"  "Who  else  in  the  house  knows  of  this  duel  ?  " 

"  I^r.  Stuart— no  one  else.  I  overheard,"  said 
Lucy,  who  seemed  to  have  a  knack  of  overhearint^ 
"  them  talking  about  it  as  coolly  as  if  it  were  tiie 
niost  matter  of  course  occurrence  in  the  world.  '  I 
could  have  sent  the  bullet  through  his  heart  as  easily 
as  through  his  arm,'  Mr.  St.  Leon  said ;  '  but  Tor- 
wood  is  too  fine  a  fellow  to  kill,  so  I  just  winged 
4urn!I  had  to  do'  that  in  self-defense,  or  he  would 
have  sHdlrmeLas^ad  as  a  herring." 

"  Another  questibn^^'^said  Edith,  keeping  that  in- 
tense gaze  on  Lucy's  feke&^^Boes  Dr.  Stuart— do  - 
you— know  the  cause  of  all  this  ?  '*       ""^    . 
Lucy  hesitated,  and  colored  agaiti.        "  * 


../: 


/ 


i88 


THE  SISTKRS  OF  TORWOOD. 


"  Yes,  Edith — yoii  are  the  cause." 

"  Have  you  anything'  else  to  tell  nio  V  ' 

"  Nothinij  more !     Have  I'done  right  in  telling  you 
this?" 

"  Quite  right.  I  am  much  obliged  to  you.  And 
now  be  good  enough  to  leave  me."    » 

"  Will  you  come  down  to  breakfast,  or  shall  I  send 
it  up  ? " 

"Thank  you!     I  shall  go  dp wn." 

Lucy  could  linger.no  longer.  She  left  the  room, 
haunted  by  one  dark  figure,  sitting  with  brooding 
eyes  fixed  steadily  on  the  wide  sea,  and  never  seeing 
it.  Lucy  doubted  much  her  coming  down  to  break- 
fast, but  corafe  she  did.  It  was  a  mere-  matter  of 
forn!  though'}  she  ate  nothing,  but  was  listening  all 
the  time  to  a  question  her  heart  was  asking:  "Is 
there  no  one  in  all  the  world  one  can  trust?" 
Angus,  her  brother  Angus,  unworthy  ;  Florence,  the 
sister  beloved  so  well,  treacherous  ;  Giaccomo,  bound 
to  her  by  strongest  vows  and  promises,  false — all 
alike  deceitful. 

She  was  just  learning  the  lesson  of  life,  you  see, 
this  haughty  Edith,  and  found  the  alphabet,  as  we 
all  find  it,  verv  bitter. 

She  looked  across  the  table  at  Florence.  How 
pretty  she  was,  with  that  skin  like  pink  and  white 
wax,  those  delicate  features,  that  shower  of  spark- 
ling curls,  tliose  dark,  soft  eyes,  like  violet  velvet, 
that  little  rS'sebud  mouth,  just  showing  the  pearl 
whity  teeth.  She  was  a  beauty  born,  an  empress  of 
hearts  frorh-  Her  cradle,  and  Avhat  were  all  Edith's 
talents,  and  clever rtess,  and  pride,  compared  with 
that  pink  and  white  face  and  those  vellow  curls. 


/s 


;..^- 


,j^ 


THE   SISTERS   OI-    TQRWOOD. 


1 80 


^ 


There  was  a  mirror  over  the  mantel  opposite— she 
i ,  looked  at  herself,  and  started  to  see  a  sunken-cheeke<l, 
hollow-eyed  vision,  plainer  than  |)lain  Edith  Tor- 
wood  ever  was  before.  One  day  of  suffering  could 
work  greater  change  in  one  of  the  sensitive  nervous 
temperament  of  Edith  than  weeks  pould  do  with  the 
phlegmatic,  sanguihe  Florence.     / 

Mo  one  simke  of  St.  Leon,  all  were  veVy  silent,  and 
Edith,  fancied,  with  an  intolerable  sense  of  humilia- 
tion, that  she  read  pity  in  every  glance  cast  upon 
her.  She^  would  rather  they  had  struck  her,  and 
she  arose-  from  the  table  in  a  horrible  state  of 
bitterness  and  resentment  against  them  apd  all 
mankind.  .  / 

"  This  day  must  ^1  it,"  she  said  through  her 
closed  teeth  :  «  this  day  his  own  lips  shall  deny  or 
eonfirm  the  charga  He  cannot,  he  dare  not  lie  to 
me!  Let  hiin  take  Florence  if  he  wants  her;  I 
would  tear  my  heart  out  sooner  than  marry  him,  • 
with  another  preferred  before  me." 

She  went  out  on  the  piazza,  feeling  she  couglAot 
stay  in  the  same  room  with  Florence.    SoinPiie   ' 
followed  her,  and  turning  she  saw  Madge.      ' 

"Look  here,  Edith,"  that  young  person  began  in  ' 
her  abrupt  way,  «  why  didn't  you  come  down-stairs 
last  night  ?  " 

"  Was  I  wanted  ? "  Edith  said,  with  cold  scorn. 

"  Yes,  you  were,"  said  Madge,  bluntly :  "  wanted 
very  much.     I  have  just  one  thing  to  say  to  you 
Miss  Edith  Torwood,  and  you  may  get  mad  at  it  if 
you  hke,  for  some  folks  never  have  gumption  enough 
4o  know  their  friends  when  they  meet  them.    The 


thing's  this— you're  always  wanted  when  that  Mr, 


.  ..<,^«,,  ,i.-jj 


1 90 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


Jackeymo  St.  Leon  is  here — wanted  particularly — 
mind  that."  , 

".With  5^  shower  of  mysterious  nods  Madge 
darted  away.  Edith  had  scarcely  heard  her  part- 
ing words;  she  was  watching  a  horseman  riding 
leisurely  down  the  britUe  path.  A  few  minutes 
brought  hiiu  to  the  court-yard,  a  few  more  to  the 
piazza  where  Edith  still  stood,  and  he  was  holding 
out  his  hand  to  her,  and  looking  at  the  altered  face*. 

"  Well,"  was  his  greeting,  "  I  should  like  to  know 
what  Miss  Edith  Torwood  has  been  abbut  for  the 
last  day  or  two  to  change  her  to  a  living  skeleton. 
They  told  me  you  had  a  headache— not  .that  you 
were  at  death's  door."  su 

The  meeting  was  not  very  lover  lil^ftlt  their 
meetings  never  were  that.  Earnestly  she  looked 
up  in  his  handsome  face,  so  frank,  so  bright,  so 
beautiful  with  "man's  best  beauty,"  and  "Oh!" 
cried  an  inward  voice,  she  longed  to  believe,  "he  is 
true;  yoU  have  been  frightening  yourself  in  vain. 
All  the  world  may  be  ialse,  but  Giaccomo  is  true !  " 
How  could  she  think  at' that  moment,  of  the  dreary 
old  adage,  "  How  fair  an  outside  falsehood  hath." 

"  Well,  my  dear,  you  do  not  speak,  and  you  stare 
at  me  as  if  I  were  a  live  kangaroo.  What  may  that 
solemn,  searching  look  mean,  pray  ? " 

"  I  am  looking  at  that  bruise  on  your  forehead ; 
how  did  you  get  it  ? " 

"  That,  "  he  said,  lifting  his  straw  hat  cooly,  and 
brushing  back  his  luxuriant  dark  hair,  "  that  is  noth- 
ing, only  a  scratch. " 

"  It  is  something  more,  I  think.    Giaccomo,  you 


Kavi  been  cjuarreling. " 


i-cA-'tf^^^:-:. 


T^E   SISTERS   OF    lORVVOOPi 


IQI 


ry 

ire 

lat 

,. 

- 

1 

J; 

nd 

th- 

* 

ou 

' 

,' 

) 

"Have  I^    Who  told  yort  that,  mademoiselle?" 

"  A  little  bird,  perhaps.  Why  did  yoq  fight  with 
Angus  Torwood  ? " 

"For  a  very  good  reaij(ia» — because  I  could  not 
help  it,  I  don't  see  how  you  found  out  anytTiing 
about  it ;  but  since  you  have,  I  suppose  you  know 
that  beauty-spot  is  the  mark  of  his  norsewhip.  " 

"  I  don't  know  it,"  said  Edith,  almost  astonished, 
well  as  she  was  used  to  him,  at  the  a*lniirable  cool- 
ness with  which  he  spoke  of  it.  "  What  did  you 
quarrel  about  ? "  •  - 

Mr.  St.  Leon  leaned  over  the  piazza  rails  to  nod 
familiarly  with  Dr.  Stuart  passing  below.     > 

"  About  you,* my  dear.     Torwood'^  an  odd  sort  of 
genius   always,  but.  I  never  toolj.  him  to  be  quite 
cracked   until  yesterday.     I   say,  Stuart,     we    will 
have  to  postpone  our  fishing  excursion  to-day,  won'tL'ji 
wef  Confound  the  weather.  "  ^ 

Dr.  Stuart  did  not  reply  ^  he  only  lifted  his  hat  to 
Edith,  and  walked  away. 

"What  did  he  do  yesterday?  Attend  to  me  if 
you  please,  Mr.  St.  Leon,  and  never  mind  Dr.  Stuart." 

"  Beg  your  M^^^)  Edith.  He  was  here  yester- 
day morning,  i^s  he  not  ?  ^  \  * 

"Yes."  '*^         -       \ 

"  Well,  his  visit  did  not  tend  to  sweeten  his  tern-"' 
per,  however  you  all  treated  him  here.    He  returned 
in  a  most  ferocious  mood,  began   calling  me  a  select 
litany  of  ^ard  names,  accused  me  of  failsehood  ancfe^ 
tfeachery  and  making  love  to  your  pretty  sister,  Flor- 
ence, and   of  perpetrating  all  sorts  of  horrors,  in 
short;  and  iindiri^  he  could  not  irritate  me  for  T" 
flatter  myself  I  have  too  much    sense    to   get  up 


192  THE   SjSTiiKS   Of' TOKVVOOD. 

Steam  to  such  a  lugh  prossurQ  about  anything  in  ' 
this  huniHlruni  worHf,  ended  by  giving  mo  a  blow 
with  his  wliip."  Of  coursj3,  after  that  there  wiis  but 
one  way  of  acting;  we  took  it;  fired  across  'the 
table  ;  he  got  his  arm  shattertjd  ;  I  escaped  unhurt,  -' 
nnd  am  here  to  tell  the,  tale:  and  so,  my- dear — 
,   ftiis.'''' 

AH  the  time  ho  was  talking  Edith  was  watching 
him.     No,  there  was  no  trace  of  guilt  ia^^^hat  hand- 
some, cardess  face,  in  that,  composed  voice,  in  that 
.     serene    Planner.     Her    heart   smote  her  \s)ith    re- 
morse for  the  injustice  she  had  done  him,  and  she 
;     held  out  her  hand  to  him  with  a  little  penitent  cry. 
"  Oil,  Giaccomo !  hovf  I  have  hc^n  wronging' you, 
and  hpw  misei*able  I  have  been !   -Can  you  eVer  for- 
give me?"  < 
"  For  what,  my  dear  ?  " 

"  I  thought— they  made  me  beliey^  you — you — oh, 
I  am  ashamed  to  tell  you!— that  you    were  false,  ' 
that  you  cared  for  Florence,  and  ndt  for  me." 

"  Pooh  I  how  could  you  be  such  *a  goose,  Edith  !■ 
Florence,  indeed !  1 1  is  some  of  Mr.  Angvis  Tor\^ood's 
handiwork,  I  suppose."        _ 
"'  "  Do  you  forgive  jne  ? ''        * 

♦'  To  be  sure,  and  him  too.    He  was  iealous,  po,or 

fellow,  and  a  jealous   man   is  equal  to  anything, 

-  l^|orence  is  a  very  fine  girl,  an   extensive  armful   of 

beauty,  rather  oh  the  Dutch  scale,,  perhaps,  but " 

""  a  shrug  and  a  slight  lift  of  the  eyebrows  finished  the 
•^7  sentence.     "  Come  into  the    drawing-room,  and  let 
tis  have  some  music.    The  '•Queen  of  Sheba  is  nO^ 
p===down-stairs  yet,  I  hope?"  ....^..:-,...=^^ 

'     "Who?" 


J 


N 


/ 


K 


^s 


N 


(THE   SIStEKS  lOP  TORVVOOD. 


10^ 


' 

r 

-^ 

r 

5"   , 

f 

'? 

0 

' 

• 

t 

t 

< 

• 

J^ 

1 

■/■; 

a 

f 

''Oh,  Madame  Toi-wood !  that  .most  awful  of 
Womankind!  Come,  Jam  dying  to  hqar  '  La  d 
dnretn  /  '  '\  ' 

Florence  only  was  in  the  drawing-room  and  >ho 
tufned  crimson  at  their  entrance.  Edith  pitied  her. 
'Ule  is  so  hjindsome,"  she  thought,  "ahcr  Florence 
^s  only  a  child— I  -iinderstand  it  all  now."  Mr.  St. 
Leon  merely-^ved  to  the  younger  sister,  and  stood 
devotedly  at  the  piano  while  Edith  played  and  sang 
'fikg  even"  Edith  never  played  and  san'g'ibefore.  It 
charmed  Madame  Torwood  down  from  her  room,  it 
charmed  Luoy  from  her  housekeejiing,  Madge  from 
her  dogs'  and.  horse,  and  Dr.  Stuart  from  his-bo»k 
aud  moi'ning  ccaistitutional.  Once  again  Edith  .was 
hapi)y  ;  but  in  Dr.  Stuart's  blue  eyes,  genial  Snd 
kindly,  tt^loot  of  i)jty  was  deeper  than  ever.   ; 

Before  nopn  the  weatjier  cleared,  and  the  gentle- 
men discovered  they  couhl  go  on  their  fishing  excur- 
sion after  all— anjljvent.  -  Edith  followed  them  tp 
the  piazza,  the  chill  feeling  of  presentiment  returning 
'Strangely  again. 

'''You  will  be  back  to-morrow  ?"..  she  sajd,  wist- 
fully holding  out  her  hand. 
He  lifted  it  to  his  lips. 
"  Could  I  stay  away  if  I  triea  ?     Adieu,  and  'au 


revoir 


/" 


She  stood  on  the  piazza  and  \yatched  th^pi  out  of 
sight,  then  'Strolled  into  the  grounds  for  a  walk. 
Aimlessly  she  turneH  into  the  dark  shrubbery,  and 
as  she  neared  its  darkest  and  loneliest  part,  she  heard 
voices  among  the  trees. 

^To-raorri^,  then," -said  a  Rw'Vdice  she"'dia^  not 
recognize.  .  ,^  •    .       ;  ,        , 


194 


-■i 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


"  Yes,  to-morrow ;  and,  oh,  dear  me  I  I  j^eel  so 
nervous  about  it,"  said  a  second  voice,  the  voice  of 
Florence.  J 

There  was  a  ruijtling  of  bushes  as  she  spoki,  and 
out  from  among  the  trees  Florence  herself  came,  and 
stood  face  to  face  with  Edith.  There  was  nothino- 
very  startling,  one  would  think,  in  such  an  encounter*'- 
certamly  she.  was  not  parting  with  Mr.  St.  Leonlliis 
time ;  but^f  ever  any  one  showed  guilt  in  everv  JFeat- 
ure,  that  one  was  Florence.  From  scarlet  she  turned 
white,  and  then  scarlet  again,  shrinking  away  in 
such  visible  affright  that  Edith  looked  at  her  in  ut- 
most wonder. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  "  she  asked 
"  You-you  stji^tled  meso,"  was  the  confused  replv 
and,  without  looking  up,  she  turned  and   walked 
rapidly  away.  ' 

Who  could  her  companion  have  been  ?  "  thouo-ht 
Edith.  «  This  is  all  rather  mysterious.  It  certainly 
was  not  the  voice  of  a  mUn." 

She  parted  the  bushes  and  looked  in,  but  no  one 
was  visible.     The  flutter  of  a  black  skirt  on  the 
distant  beach  caught  her  eye,  but  it  xvas  only  Madffe 
singing  one  of  her  odd  snatches  of  song  :  / 

4 

"  Bind  the  sea  to  slumber  stilly, 
Bind  its  o<lor  to  the  lily. 
Bind  the  uspen  ne'er  to  <iuiver, 
Tlien  bind  love  to  last  forever  1 " 

That  cold,  chilling  presentiment  once  more !    What 
was  th^re  in  Madge's  gay  voice  to  awaken  it  ? 


i^Pshawr"   Edith  said  to  herself,  impatientrvT 
what  a  simpleton  I  am  I  " 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  195  > 

And  so  she  wandered  up  and  down  for  over  an 
hour,  trying  to  think  she  was  happy  and  satisfied, 
and  her  mutinous  heart  giving  her  the  lie  all  the 
time.  What  was  Florence  going  to  do  tqynorrow  ? 
^to  whom  had  she  been  talking?  and  why  that  guilty 
look  ?  Edith  went  back  to  the  house  without  find- 
ing an  answer  to  her  own  questions,  and  dressed  for 
dinner,  ^j,        - 

As  she  descended  to  the  dining-room,  Madge  came 
behmd  her,  singing  again,  this  time  the  fag-end  of 
an  old  French  balladW 

"  to-day  for  me, 
)  To-morrow  for  thee, 

But  will  that  to-morrow  ever  be  I " 

"To-morrow!  to-morrow!"  repeated  Edith,  men- 
tally; "w^hy  does  that  word  haunt  me  so?,,  Who 
knows  what  to-morrow  may  bring  forth j  " 

Who,  indeetl  ?    Well  for  her  she  did  not  know,^as 
her  appetite  for  dinner  would  have  been  as  poor  as 
at  breakfast.     It  haunted  her  all  the  evening,  haunt- 
ed her  to  her  room,  haunted  her  at  her  prayers 
haunted  her  to  her  pillow.  ' 

"To-morrow!  to-morrow!"  she  kept  inwardly 
reiterating,  and  with  that  momentous  little  word 
stdl  m  her  heart  and  on  her  lips,  Edith  fell  asleep. 


0 


\  1 
t 


»wiiit)iit>. 


V 


196 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


WHAT   CAME. 


In  the  staid  and  prim  parlor  of  that  staid  and 
prim  house  adjoining  that  staid  and  prim  building, 
the  Presbyterian  meeting-house,  the  Rev.  Alexander 
McPherson  sat  at  dinner.  The  reverend  gentleman 
kept  early  hours,  asyo\i  know,  and  though  the  hands 
of  the  town  clock  had  not  yet  touched  ten,  Mr.  Mc- 
Pherson's  appetite  wds  six  hours  old,  and  in  excel- 
lent order.  He  had  just  sat  down,  gone  through  a 
brief  grace,  spread  his  napkin,  and  was  seizing  vig- 
orously the  carving-knife  and  fork,  when  an  authori- 
tative knock  sounded  at  the  hall  door. 

Mr.  McPherson  paused,  with  the  carving  knife 
brandished  over  the  smoking  joint,  and  presently 
the  old  housekeeper  made  her  appearance  ushering 
in  a  visitor.  The  minister,  from  the  loudness  of  the 
knock,  had  been  expecting  Miss  Madge  Tor  wood ; 
but  it  was  a  gentleman  this  time,  a  tall,  young,  and 
gracious  gentleman. 

"Oh,  it's  only  you!"  exclaimed  the  clergyman, 
looking  relieved,  and  beginning  to  carve.  "I  ex- 
pected a  lady.  Find  a  chair,  will  you,  and  draw  it 
ovei:— my  old  lady  will  find  another  plate  and  knife 
lui(If5rK."  .   . 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Dr.  Stuart,  who  chanced  to  be 


] 
] 

i 
I 

s 
I 

0 

a 


T^ 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  197 

'  the  visitor,   removing  his  gloves.     «  So  you  have 
ladies  to  visit  you,  do  you  ?     Young  er  old  ? " 

"Both.      Madge    Torwood    comes    sometimes. 
What  brings  Dr.  Stuart  to  town  this  morning  ? » 

«  You  never  would  guess  what !     I  am  trying  my 
hand  as  an  amateur  detective,  and  am  on  the  trail 
of  two  certain  people.     I  missed  what  I  came  for 
though."  •  ' 

"  What  was  that  ?  " 

"  A  wedding !  I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  by  and  by 
I  am  too  hungry  to  talk  at  present.  It's  luncheon 
hour  over  at  the  Towers,  and  '  ray  lady '  and  pretty 
Mistress  Lucy,  not  to  speak  of  the  other  angels,  re- 
siding there,  will  wonder  what  has  become  of  me." 

"  It  won't  take  away  their  appetite,  I  hope.  Is  it 
any  harm  to  ask  how  you  are  progressino-  ^  " 

"  In  what  way  ? "  *  ' 

"  Have  you  proposed  for  aay  of  the  Misses  Tor- 
wood  yet  ?  "  * 

"Not  yet.  1  am  afrafel  I  am  bashful.  Proposing 
is  an  awful  piece  of  busmess  to  a  timid  fellow  like 
myself."  , 

The  laughing  face  and  ro^ni^h  blue  eyes  confront- 
ing the  divine  certainly  shou^>1itUe  evidence  of 
bashfulness.     Mr.  McPherson  gruntecrexpt^sively  : 

"Time  IS  on  the  wing,  young  man,  and'bther 
suitors  may  not  be  so  dilatory.  There's  that  St 
Leon-he  is  going  fo  carry  off  one;  here  am  I  bent 
on  carrying  off  another ;  so  only  two  will  be  left, 
lou  U  put  your  foot  in  it,  my  young  friend,  if  you 
are  not  careful." 


"  And  lose  that  grand  fortune  the  late  Judge  Tor 
Vrood-rest  his  soul  I-Ieft  me.    That  would  never 


198 


THE  SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


p. 


(do.    1   must  screw  my  courage   to  the  sticking 
fpojnt  somehow  before  long.     It's  a  fearful  t&L 

!  tlKpugh."  -  . 

f  And  \yhat  does  Lucy  Torwood  say  ?  " 
"  Lots  of  things.  The  fact  is,  she  is  getting  tired 
|Of  saying  and  is  beginning  to  give  me  up  in  despair. 
Uh  It  8  of  no  use ;  I  must  beup  and  doing !  I  think 
I  shall  begin  at  the  eldest,  and  go  through  the  four 
ivith  the  same  question  ;  surely,  one  out  of  so  many 
jwill  accept."  ^ 

\    "  You  had  better  not  ask  Lucy.     I  have  a  prior 
^claim,  remember." 

?     "Should  be  happy  to  oblige  you,  mv  dear  sir,  l,ut 
V^     m  this  matter  you |(>u.«rt;  excuse  me.     Lucy  is  so  much 
at  homo  in  Torwood  Towers  it  would  be  a  mtv  to 
take  her  out  of  it."  ' 

'^Look  here,  Stuart,"  said  Mr.  McPherson,  chan<r. 
ing  his  tone  suddenly,  and  leaning  acr<,ss  the  table''- 
Js  It  true  that  Angus  Torwood  has  left  ^ " 
''■Quito  true." 
.  "  And  that  he  and  St.  Loon  fou-ht  a  duel  before 

leaving  about— about  a  certain  young  ladv  ?  "      , 
"Yes." 

"  You  were  out  fishing  with  St.  Leon  yesterday 
weren  t  you  ? "  ->  j 

"  I  was." 

"  You  are  very  great  friends,  I  suppose  ?  " 
"  Very— thick  as  pickpockets." 
'.^-  "Might  one  venture  to  ask  your  opinion  of  the 
young  gentleman  ? " 
•*Te^  and  take  your  answer  in  two  words— un- 


^^itigated  scomfdref.** 

"Help  yo.;rseIf  to    potatoes 


An    unmitigated 


1 


■   i 


f 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORVVOOD.  199 

-«^Dear.elareyou„otalittl.:seve.^ 

«  Giaccomo  St.  Leon  is  an  unmitigated  ioundrel," 
Dr.  Stuart  repeated,  "  and  he  knows  it  l^mself,  and 
knows  that  I  know  it !"  ' 

"  And  jet  you  are  friends  ?" 

riZr^'^  7^\  ^  '?^  ^"^'^  ^''''^  ^^^"-'^  "«  yesterday 
dve  our  hooks  and  lines.  *  I  know  I  am  acting  like 
a  vd  am,  for  whom  hanging  wouhl  be  a  thousand 
time^  too  good,"  owned  Mr.  St.  Loon,  withcharmin.. 
frankness ;  but  it  is  my  destiny,  and  I  must  go  on/ 
lou  see  the  fe  ow  is  a  fatalist,  and  he  believes  that 
what  ]s  to  be  wdl  be." 

''And  you  ?     Are  you  a  fatalist,  too  ? " 
Dr.  Stuart's  face  deepened  in  its  gravity 
"  I  am  aChristian,  Mr.  McPherson,  as  I  hope  you 
know ;  and  believe  in  Providence,  not  in  fate  " 

There  was  silence  for  a  moment.both  looked  seri- 
ous, and  Dr  Stuart  had  dropped  for  once  his  mock- 
ing tone  and  doubtful  smile. 

"Knowing  all  this,"  said  Mr.  McPherson,  "  L  do  ' 
not  see  how  you  can  reconcile  it  with  vour  con  ' 
science  to  be  his  friend."  " 

"My  dear  sir,  I  never  said  J  was  his  friend  It 
was  yourself.     I  should  be  sorry  to  be  a  friend  of 

"  You  are  often  with  him,  then." 

"  Oh  to  be  sure !  He  interests  me  as  something 
new  and  piq^uxnt,  and  I  have  been  before  now  in  tbf 
society  of  the  most  notorious  blacklegs  of  New 


-  —   — ""  ""t,uiiuiis  uiacKiegs  of  JNew 

fr  ;  ^''ff'^y^t"^  »"««»^mw^lbw  taste,  r 
am  afraid,  for  such  vulgar  studies  from  nature  " 
Dr.  Paul   Stuart,"  said  Mr.  McPherson,  laying 


200 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


down  his  knife  and  fork  with  emphasis,"  you  are  not 
a  good  man  you  are  not  a  conscientious  man,  or  vou 
never  would  let  Edith  Torwood  become  his  ;ife  » 

My  very  dear  sir,"  said   the   doctbr,  a  smile 
breaking  the  stern  gravity  of  his  face,  "  how  could  I 

I' You  could  tell  her  what  you  have  told  me." 
She  would  not  listen  ;  she  would  not  believe." 
;-\  ^^  bbe  might ;  she  is  a  sensible  girl." 
^      "Fearfully  so.  on  every  point,  but  this." 
.   It  1.^  your  duty  to  try." 
'"  And  be  lauglied  at  for  my  pains." 
;'Be  it  so  ;  a  laugh  will  not  hurt  you,  and  you 
will  have  done  your  duty." 

"But  Mr.  St  Leon  told  me  in  confidence  that  he  was 
a  villam,  said  the  young  doctor,  looking  amused  ; 
"  would  it.be  honorable?  " 

"Honor among  thieves  !  I  have  only  one  thinxr 
to  say  to  you,  Dr.  Stnart-you  ai^e  as  great  a  villain 
as  he.  If  you  do  not  try  your  best  to  prevent  this 
marriage." 

"My  good  friend,"  said  Dr.  Stuart,  rising  from 
the  table,  "  be  easy  ;  this  marriage  will  never  take 
place!" 

"  No  ?  and  why  ? "  '' 

"  For  the  very  best  reason  in  the  woild^^-J*^ 
"What  is  it?"  .^ 

"  Will  you  promise  not  to  faint  if  I  tell  yoni" 
"  I'll  do  my  best — go  on  !  " 
"  Then  Giaccomo  St.  Leon  will  not  marry  Edith 
Torwood,  because  he  is  maJ-ried  already." 
"Z^tj"  cried  the  ministeis  in  shrill  consternjr— 

Ml. 


tion. 


/! 


1 


THE  SISTERS  OF  T0RW<5oD.  201-* 

"  There  you  go !  I  told  you  tq.  keep  cool !  Yes, 
sir,  Mr.  St.  Leon  was  married  this  morning,  in  the 
Episcopal  Church,  and  by  the  Episcopal  clei-gyman 
of  Torwoodtown." 

"To  whom?"  Mr.  McPhersou  was  just  able  to 
gasp. 

"  To  Florence  Torwood,  third  daughter  of  the  late 
Judge  Torwood,  of  Torwood  Towers.^' 

"Mr.  McPherson  did  not  speak;  h'e  could  not; 
he  sat  perfectly  dumb,  only  staring  in  hopeless  con- 
sternation at  the  composed  speakerx'^  cs 

Dr.  Stuart  laughed  at  his  horror-struck  face. 

"  Don't  look  so  Utterly  dazed,  my  dear  sir !  Did 
you  never  before  hear  of  a  gentleman  being  engaged 
to  one  lady  and  marrying  another?  Besides,  you 
might  have  foreseen  this." 

Mr.  McPherson,  finding  breath  at  last,  took  out  his 
snuflF  box,  drew  up  about  twice  the  usual  supply,  and 
fortified  by  its  pungency,  was  able  to  si)eak  once 
more. 

"  And  how  many  know  of  this  ?  "  he  demanded. 

"  Let  me  see,"  said  the  doctor,  beginning  to  reckon 
on  his  fingers,  "  one,  two,  three,  four,  five,  six.  Six 
people,  I  believe." 

"  Is  Edith  Torwood  one  of  the  six  ? " 

"  N^o  indeed.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  St.  Leon  make  two 
(or  did  before  they  were  made  one),  I  am  three,  you 
are  four,  and  the  clergyman  five,  and  one  other  per- 
/  son,  six !  " 

"  Don't  be  mysterious.    Who  is  the  other  person  ? " 
^*  Never  mind,"  said  Dr.  Stuart,  thedoubtfulsmile=- 


dawning  on  his  face  again ;  "  perhaps  you  may  learn 
that  one  day.    But,  you  see,  Miss  Edith  is^never 


^ 


i 


202  THE   SISTERS  ^F   TORWOOD. 


.••:i 


likely  to  be  St.  Leon's  wife,  since  he  has  taken  to  bis 

bosom  the  fair,  the  fat,  the  fascinating  Florence.'! 
The  minister  took  snuff  a  second  time.  ^ 

"Bless  my  soul!     I  never  was ^o  amazed.     And 

wiiat  a  scene  there  will  be  when  that  h^t-blooded 

Jidith  hears  it." 

"  No,  I  think  not.  Edith  Torwood  might  make 
a  scene  about  other  things,  not  about  this  She  is 
by  far  too  proud  to  wear  her  heart.on  her  sleeve 
for  daws  to  peck  at."  ," 

'  ^'  You  begin  to  admire  her^a  little,  I  tMnJc," 
.  '*  I  admire  her  more  than  a  little.       "^'^ 
"  It  has  lately  come  to  you,  then."      '        '  " 
"By  no  means.     I  admired  her  from  the  Urst,  but 
did  not  quite  understand  her." 
"  You  understand  her  now  ? "    . 
"  I  think  so.    She  is  what  you  said  she  was  one 
evening  at  the  Towers— a  fine  girl." 

"Dr.  Stuart !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  McPherson,  ^'you 
have  made  your  choice  among  the  sisters ! " 

•'  I  have,"  replied  Dr.  Stuart,  sferenely. 
'  "  And  it  is  not  Lucy  ? "  '  . 

"No;  it  is  Edith." 

Mr.  McPherson  leaned  back  in  his  chair,  and  took 
snuff  for  the  third  time. 

"  The  very  last  one  of  all,"  he  murmured,  help- 
lessly, "  I  should  have  suspected." 
\  4' Of  course.     We  ahyays  do  marrv  the  very  last 
person  our  friends  would  have  expected." 

"  But  she  won't  have  you  ! "  cried  Mr.  McPher- 
son, triumphantly. 

_   "  mn't  she  ?    Iloa't  be  too  sure  of  that.    Time-- 
works/wonders." 


)ne        -^ 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  203 

That  shows  how  little  you  know  of  human 
reCnd."''"^'^'  "'^  '^"^'  ^^^  ^^  '^^  ^^^'^^  -  ^he 

"  I  have  not  deceived  her." 

"Yes,  you  have.  You  knew  of  St.  Leon's  false- 
hood, and  yet  kept  it  secret " 

"She.will  thank  me  for  it  some  day  when  she 
awakes  from  he.  delusions,  and  comesi  herri^ht 

-    "  Tliat  is,  when  she  is  Mrs  S  '  " 

Leon  !  Besides,  my  dear  fellow,  what  good  would 
come  of  my  telling?  It  would  have%revlnted 
nothing  that  has  occurred.  I  helped  nothing  on- 
eou'T''^   ''"'    ''"''   '^'  '''   ^-'^^^  t-ke^heir 

Jlf^u   ""  '?^^  ''''"'''^  ^^'^y  ^-'^^^  ^^^^^-    What  is 
to  be  the  next  move  in  the  game  ?  " 

J\^^  "!:?  "''''^^  """'^  ^^  ^^^  Norwood  Towers  " 

r     a^lML's!'  r""^r'  '^^  watch  ;.«  that  ;f 

ulate  »  '''"  ^''^'^^^^^  '^^  ^«  ^N"^^ 

"And  Florence  forfeits  her  share  of  Jier  father's 
money.    That  will  be  a  loss."  i^cners 

"  It  might  be  to  common  mortals,  but  they  will 
never  thmk  of  it,  you  know.     The^  will  live  on 
J5Ye.  and  all  that  sort  of  thingfr'       "    ~^J^^ 

"Humph!  we  have  a  proverb  in  Scotland: 'A 
kiss  and  a  drmk  of  water  make  but  a  poor  breat 


J 


^ 


« f^'teWiiisAlfeBtV A 


204 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOO, 


fast  1 '    Love  is  very  unsubstantial  diet— Florence 
will  get  thin  on  it,  I  am  afraid." 
'     Dr.  Stuart  laughed,  and  put  on  his  hat. 

"Wh^sn  are  we  to  see  your  reverence  at  the 
Towers?"   ^ 

'  "  Not  until  the  gale  blows  over,  I  think.  Tor- 
wood  Towers  will  be  a  home  of  discord  only  for 
awhile,  I  dare  say." 

"  To  one,  perhaps.     Well,  good-morning." 
"  One  parting  question,"  said  Mr.  McPherson,  pro- 
ducing his  snuff-box  for  the  fourth  time  ;  "  when«lo 
you  propose  for  Edith  ? " 

Dr.  Stuart  had  his  hand  on  the  door-knob,  but  he 
turned  round  again. 

"  Did  you  see  the  new  moon  last  night  ? "  was 
his  seemingly  irrelevant  question. 

"  I  don't  know.     Was  there  a  new  moon  ? " 
"  Yes ;  and  before  that  new  moon  wanes  Edith 
Torwood  either  shall  say  yes  or  no.     Good-morning, 
sir." 

After  which  Dr.  Stuart  rode  home,  his  conscience 
relieved  by  an  open  confession.  As  he  rode  up  the 
front  avenue,  he  overtook  ah  equestrienne  riding  even 
more  slowly  than  himself.  Not  Madge— Madge  never 
rode  a  white  horse— never  rode  any  horse  black  or 
white,  at  thai  funeral  pace,  and  did  not  affect 
bright  blue  riding-habits.  The  equestrienne  turned 
round,  and  under  the  brim  of  a  white  gtraw  hat, 
shaded  by/  plumes  of  white  and  azurej  he  s^w  a 
lovely  young  face,  fresh,  rosy,  and  blooming  as  an- 
other Hebe's  ;  all  the  tinseled  gold  ringlets,  braided, 
^nd  twisted,  and  knotted  back,  seeing  that  cimIbT 
under  a  riding-hal^    was  an    abomination;    tffe 


V 


^tHC   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  205 

plump,  rounded  for^  set  off  W  the  blue  Babit,  the 
pretty  hands  adorned  with  blTff  gauntlets~a  picture 
-       altogether  bright  as  a  "poet's  vision.     Dr.  Stuart 
lifted  his  liat,  and  bent  to  his  saddle'bow 

"Gc,od-,norning,  Miss  Florence-it  is  something 
-new  to  hnd  you  on  horseback.     Been  to  town?" 
"  ^^?'"  ^'"'^  Florence,  and  up  to  her  temples  rose 
,  •     the  guilty  blood  agiiin;  f 

"A  delightful  morning  for *such  a  canter.     Per- 
mit nieTb  assist  you." 

V    '  He  lifted  her  from  the  saddle,  and,  only  too  glad 

^  to  escape,  Florence  ran  up  the  piazza  steps.     There 

another  disagreeable  encounter  awaited  her.    Edith 
stood  on  the  piazza,  in  dinner  costume,  a  book  in  her 
hand,  waitmg-waitingfor  one  Who  would  not  come 
\-who  never  would  come  again.     But  Florence  did 
^Ot  wait  to  be  addressed^  she  scarcely  looked  at  her 
as  she  hurried  by  and  entered  the  house.     Dr  Stuart  ^ 
^      might  have   been   more  polite,    but   Edith's    eves 
^        droppedon  her  bookat  hisapproacl,,  and  never  lifted, 
as  she  b(^t  heit^ead  jt  his  greeting.     Rather  dis- 
■^     ■     couragmg,  perhaps,  for  a  man  who  Iiad  announced 
his  intention  of  marrying  her;  but, Dr.  Stuart  was 
not  easily  discouiliged,  and   went  Into  the  dining 
room  whistling  a  tune.  ''  ^ 

All  the  rest  of  the  afternoon  tho  doctor  covertly 
watched  Edith,  and  Edith  watched  openly  for  some 
one  who  did  not  come.     LamjUight  hour  came,  and 
-        Edith  was  at  the  piano,  her  restless  fingers'wander 
,         ing  aimlessly  over  the  keys,  a  feverish  fire  of  expecta- 
Jion  burnii^  in  her  eyes  and  cheeks.  ^  Fforenc^-was^ 


-r  ! 


/ 


7»,«      I      CTT-        7  «"«eKff.    riDPence-wFU 

there,  too,  holding  a  book  in  which  shi  seemed  utter- 
ly absorbed,  quite  unconscious  of  the  fact  that  she 


r 


"V-  A-'rii 


206 


TjHE   srSTERS  OK   TORV/OOD. 


n-  *: 


was liolding  It  upsiae  down.    So,  while  Etlith  played, 

and  Flprenco  read,  and  Dr.  Stuart  watched,  all  were 

thinlving  of  the  same  individual,  who  probably  at 

that  very  time  was  serenely  smoking  his  cheroots, 

and  wondering  what  his  destiny  had  in  store  for  hhn 
next.  ,  ,_  , 

Eleven  struck  from  the  hall  clock.  Susie,  the^.,^ 
ored  clianibermaid,  cujiie  in  with  a  tray  of  bed-room 
candlesticks,  good-night  was  said,  and  the  familv  at 
Tor  wood  Towers  separated  for  the  night.    - 

Twelve  struck',  and  all  Avere,  or  should  have  been, 
in  bed  ;  but  in  one  room  a  girl  was  walking  up  and 
down,  up  and  down,  with  a  wild,  strange  fire  burn- 
ing in  her  dark  eyes;  in  another  room  a  fairer  girl 
shawled  and  hopded,  sat,  watch  in  hand,  counting 
the  mmutes;  ^e  a  third  figure,  not  at  all  girlish 
was  out  on  tlie  piazza,  AVatching  the  stars,  and  wait- 
ing for  what  was  to  come. 

The  night  was  clear,  and  still,  and  bright;  the 
sounds  of  silence— the  slipping  of  a  snake,  the  crack- 
ing of  a  dry  branch,  the  chirping  of  the  birds  in  their 
nests,  the  dull,  regular  splash. of  the  waves,  on  th^ 
shore,  the  slow  murmur  of  the  night  an  )in  the  trees, 
the  ticking  of  the  old  hall  clock— ««  were  distinctly 
audible  to  the  figure  standing  in  yi|g|iyQJ^  of  the 
piazza  pillars— ^j^iting—waiUHg.  ^MSBfcr^   ^ir 
o'clock,  and  then  his  vigil  was  o^|^p|^l  heard 
something— the sound-o|  wheels;  he  had  seen  some- 
thing—a  shawled  and  hooded  figure  flit  Tike  a  guilty 
ghost  out  of  the  front  door,  down  the  stairs,  and 
.disappear  into  the  night,  and  then  he  came  in 


,<>  '^ 


Ml  lamp  shone  for  a  moment  on   a  pale 
-l»,lp  with.yratching  in  |he  night  air,  perhaps  ; 


.f 


THK   SIliTEKS  OF   TOKWOOU. 


207 


,.>* 


but  ho  was  half-smiJing,  half  talking  to  himself  for  ^ 
all.    . 

"So  the  second  act  of  the  drama  is  over/'  ho  was 
soliloquiziny- "  hrst,  i.mrriago-thon  elopement. 
Ih^  third,  the  last,  the  groat  denouement,  is  to  come 
yet.  W«n't  ther(^  be  the  dickens  to  pay  to-morrow 
morning?" 

Three,  four,  live,  six!    The  old  clock,  witir its" 
sonorous  voice,/toll6(l  tlui  liours,  as  it  had  totted  them 
for  fifty  years,  and  a  now  day  had  dawned  on  the 
worl(|.  ,-^  ' 

Dr.  Stuart  was  up  with  the  sun,  scarcely. wearing 
so  fresh  arid  florid  a  complexion  as  that  luminary, 
,  though,     As  he  paced  up  ancf  down  the  courtyard,' 
he. cast  occasional  glances  up  at  the  windows  of  the 
sleeping   chambers  occupied  by ^th^ young  ladies./, 
Ihe  blmds  wore  down  in  the  mpn^of  :fc;ditft  tod 
Florence,  but  while  Ire  looked  Lucy's  wiiftlow  opened, 
and  Lucy's  pretty  face  smiled,  good-morning.     Five 
mmutes  after  there  was  a  merry  shout  on  the  piazza 
and  Madge  came  bounding  down,  with  Sancho,-a8 
usual,  gamboling  furiously  around  her. 
"  Where  now.  Donna  QHixote  ?  "  ho  asked 
"  Everywhere.     I  think  I'll  run  over  to  Torwool. 
town,  and  blow  up  Mr.  Jaokeymo  St.  Leon  for  not 
bemg  here  yesterday.     Anybody   could   see-  Edith 
was  hdgetmg  ta  4eath  about  it.     Oh,  what  a  nice 

SS""""'*   ^^  ^^^^  "'  ^'''''''    ^^"^^  ''^'^"^' 
Madge  was  out  of  sight  directly,.but  she  did  not 
JfojyUJLftvvity  to  Torw^jedtowa,  for  she  was  bacr= 
at  the  breakfast  hour,  with  her  spirits  and  appetite  ' 
greatly  improyed-neitber  for  that  matter,  stamlipc 


^i*^.*  •*.  "^   *'  "L , '  Iff   *         ^  ~ 


^y 


-"* 


208  I^HE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 

much  in  need'of  improvement.  The  doctor  escorted 
her  to  the  dming-room,  where  Edith  sat  alone;  and 
a  moment,  after  Lucy  entered,  with  a  servant  behind 
her,  bearmg  coffee-and  toast. 

"Have^ny  of  you  good  peoi)le  seen  Florence  this 
mormng?"  she  asked.    "She  is  not  in  the  house, 
and  It  IS  the  first  time  since  Jier  return  she  has  been 
out  of  it  before  breakfast     I  have  been  to  her  room 
and  she  is  not  there."  ;  ' 

.  "  Did  you  look  in  the  pantry,  Lucy  ?  "demanded 
pert  Madge,  and  the  doctor  smiled  at  her  character- 
istic remark. 

"For  shame,  Madge!  Did  she  sleep  with  vou 
last  night  Edith  ? "  ^ 

"  No." 

"It's  very  odd!  Well,  Susie,  what  do  you 
want  ? "  "^ 

"Please,  Miss  Lucy,"  said  the  chambermaid,  pre- 
senting a  letter,  «  Miss  Floy  gave  me  this  yer  last 
night,  and  told  me  to  give  it  to  you  this  morning  at 
oreaKiast. 

Was  it  some  presentiment  of  what  it  contained 
that  made  Lucy  turn  suddenly  white  ?  Madge  and 
Edith  stared,  and  the  doctor  drew  a  long  breath  as 
if  bracing  himself  for  the  scene  to  come.  ' 

"  Gave  you  this  last  night  ? "  faltered  Lucy  «  At 
what  tijTie  ?    What  did  she  say  ?  " 

"After  all  you  was  to  bed!!  Miss  Floy  she  rung  ' 

her  bell,  and  I  went  up,  and  then  she  gave  me  this 

letter,  and  told  me  I  was  to  hand  ii  to  you,  Miss 

Lucy,  at  breakfast,  and  then  slie  shut  her  dooV  afid 

TrtoTTt  know  nothm'  more  'tall  about  it  "        "     "^ 

"Open  it,  Lucy!  %n  it!"   cried  Madge,  quite 


■.^j^ 


THE  SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


209 


curiously.     «  Clear  out,  Susio  !     What  on  earth  has 
Florenc'o  been  uj)  to  now  ? " 

Lucy  (lid  open  the  letter,  but  her  hands  shook 
while  doing  it.  Two  minutes  after  it  had  dropped 
on  the  floor  and  with  a  shrill  scream  her  hands  fiew 
up  and  covered  her  white  face. 

"  La  !  "  cried  Madge,  her  black  eyes  starting  to 
that  degree  in  her  astonishment  that  there  seemed 
some  danger, of  their  dropping  out  on  the  carpet. 
"  What  is  the  matter  ?     May  I  read  this,  Lucy  ? " 

But  Lucy  did  not,  seemingly  could  not,  speak,  so 
great  was  the  first  shock.  She  had  sunk  into  a  chair, 
her  face  still  hidden  in  her  hands,  and  Madge,  tak- 
ing silence  for  assent  picked  up  the  fallen  document. 
It  was  short,  sharp,  ard  decisive,  a  model  of  sensi- 
ble composifeon. 

"My  Deab  LtJOY  :— «  I  address  you,  being  the 
elder,  and  the  only  one  under  the  circumstances  I 
can  very  well  address.  I  was  married  yesterday  to 
Mr.  St.  Leon,  and  will  leave  here  with  him  to-night 
to  avoid  a  fuss.  I, beg  you  will  not  make  a  time 
about  this,  and  Edith  may  as  well  take  it  quietly, 
because  being  angry  and  scolding  will  do  no  good 
now.  I  could  not  help  being  prettier  than  she  is, 
and  having  Mr.  St.  Leon  like  me  better,  and  so  you 
may  tell  her.  Of  course  I  jnust  leave  my  trunks  and 
things  behind  for  the  present,  but  when  Giaccomo 
and  1  get  settled  I  will  send  you  my  address  and 
you  can  forward  them.  Don't  let  Madge  get  at  my 
dresses  or  she  will  spoil  them,  she  is  so  rough  ;  and 
tell  Dr.  Stuart  that  I  hope  he  will  not  be  mean 
enough  to  keep  my  share  of  the  legacy  because  I 
could  iiol  marry  him.  I  declare  Tarn  real  glad  to 
get  away  from  Torwood  Towers,  for  it's  the  most 
dismal  old  place  I  ever  saw.  Good-by,  my  dear 
H 


iil 


*■#!»  ■ 


210 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


Lucy ;  I  will  write  to  you  again  as  soon  as  DOsaihlp 
and  be.su^  you  send  me  every thir.g  ^  ^^^' 

"  Your  affectionate  sister, 

"  Floken-ce  St.  Leon. 

■\\^'  ^-7"^^  "ot  the  name  ])rettv  ?     T  entrmf  vr.n 

Madge  read  the  letter  over  twice-at   first  in    - 
credulously,  then  with  a  horrible  sense  of  its  tru  V^^^ 
-     Before  she  came  to  the  end  the  second  time  1^ 

rage.  Of  all  her  presentiments  of  imi  endin.. 
danger,  sfie  had  dreamed  of  nothing  so  bad  as  this" 
and  she  crumpled  the  missive  up  if  her  hL,  and 
glared  vindictively  around  her. 

"If  I  only  had  a  hold  of  her !  "  said  Madge  claw 

I?e?  vt:LT"'T  f  hherotherhand,  ^^^^'ti :; 
her  whether  I  spoiled  everything  I  laid  my  hands 
on  !    The  mean,  treacherous,  <leceitful " 

"Madge!"  Edith   suddenly  said,  rising,   "what 
has  Ilorence  done  ?  what  is  that  letter  ahtt  ?  " 

Madge  luul  forgotten  Edith.     Lucy  had  not  and 
she  arose  too,  white  with  dismay  '       * 

"Oh    Edith  !  how  shall  we  tell  you?  /.^^^  shall 
we  tell  you  ? "  ^"^'' 

The  fire  that  intense  excitement  lighted  in  Edifh'= 

"  Give  me  the  letter*  ? " 

Madge  looked  appealingly  at  Lucy:    but  Lucv^ 

Take  It  then,"  exclaimed  Madge  in  desperation  ; 


b 
n 

Hi 


sc 

C( 


W 


■A?*.,. 


lier 
ssed 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  2 11 

It  with  the  greatest  pleasure  " 

to^l^'l^V"''"".'''^'''  ^""^'  ^^'^^'^  'tossed  over 
to  one  of  the  windows,  and  Dr.  Stuart,  looking  very 

mgly  to  h.m  her  white  and  frightene<l  face. 

while  "L"  ''h  '^  '"  ^'''''  ^'""'y  ''^'-  '^l«^«  for  a 
Mnlt  ?;,;"^7,.P^«-"^-'^nd  Lucy,  beckoning  to 
Madge  followed  hnn  out  on  the  piazza.  J]„t  Macte's 
curiosity  prompted  her  to  linger  at   the  door    and 

wh-,T  '\'' !'''''  ^^'-^^  once:  twice,  three  tC 
while  the  dark  figure  at  the  window  stood  as  stm 
as  if  carved  in  stone. 

camfovr;?7  'f '  "^«"^««^W'  AndMadge 
came  over  to  where  Lucy  stood,  trembling  and  nafe 

<j«  1    1/      ,P  ^"^®^'  a  ""le  hornpipe  of  anxietv 

thS° '""""""■■  """P'""  ""  P<«^P«'  ""-ougl. 
the  dmnmg-room  window.  ^ 

"  She  isn't  there,  she's  gone?    The  coast's  clear 
—come  along ! "  .  isi.  a  cie.u 

Breakfast  and  rose  agam,  with  everythin..  afmo=,t 
nntasted      Madgo  started  off  iramedlatelv:aml  at 

son,  and  not  returning  until  night.    Dr  StZnZ 
companied  her,  and  L„ey  was  feft  alone  h,^    ta"' 


w 


<,^..,,^4%     iJI 


212 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


of  miserable  anxiety  not  to\  be  described.      Once 
dunng  the  course  of  the   daj^  she  ventured    up  to 
Ediths   room,  and  listened  ^t   the    door,  but   the 
silence  of  the  grave  reigned  ^v«thin.     She  had  even 
ventured  in  her  terror  to  turn  the  handle  and  look 
n;  yes,  Edith  mis  there,    sitting  by  the  >vindow 
her  hands  tightly  locked  together  in  her  lap,  and 
the  letter  clasped  between  them,  her  face  turned  to 
thesea   .  Lucy  could  not  see  it,  and  not  daring  to 
speak,  she  stole  out  agaih,  and  left  the  lonel  v  watcher 
to  keep  her  vigil  undisturbed. 

Next  morning,  in  passing  from  her  own  chamber 
down-stairs,  Lucy  ventured  to  look  in  again.  The 
pale  s^iadow  in  black  sat  by  the  window  stiU,  as  if 
she  had  never  once  moved -as  if  she  had  sat  there 
through  the  livelong  night. 


t 


Once 
up  to 
t  the 
even 
look 
kIow, 
,  and 
ed  to 
\g  to 
tcher 

nber 
The 
as  if 
here 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TOKWOOD. 


213 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


THE    INVALID. 


Dr.  Paul  ^hjaut,  according  to  custom,  standing 
on  the  piazza  before  breakfast  that  morning,  fek 
himself  touched  ligluly  on  tire  arm,  and  lookin<r 
round  saw  the  anxious  face  of  Lucy  Torwood 

"  f  ^-  f  *"';'"V?''''  ^"'•'•iedly  began,  «  what  shall  I 
do  about  Edith  ?  I  have  nobo<ly  to  advise  me,  and 
1  declare  I  am  worried,  nearly  to  death  about  this 
wretched  business." 

She  looked  it;  a  more   troubled   and   distrdss^d ' 
countenance  than  that  uplifted  pleadingly  to  his  the 
young  doctor  had  seldom  seen. 

"It  is  a  wretched   business  indeed,"  he  travel  v 
said.     «In  what  way  can  I  be  of  seWice  fo  Jou 
Miss  Torwood?"  -^     ' 

"I  don't  know  what  to  do  about  Edith.     She  sat 
m  her  room  all  yesterday,  and  never  ate  a  mouth- 
1  ul.     She  sat  up  all  night  without  once  going  asleep 
I  am  sure;. and  who  is  to  tell  she  mavnotdo  tie 
same  to^ay  ?     She  will  kijl  herself  if  she  keeps  on 
and  I  don't  know  what  to  do."  ' 

Lucy  was  twisting  her  fingers  and  looking  as  if 

ir^  « '^'  '''"^^  ^^^  ^^"^'*'^^  ^««»g  doctor  had 
jomeJlfficulty  lo  repress  a  smile  at4^„^ist«8S:-^= 


■  Why  do 


ou  not  go  and  speak  to  her,  then  ? 


•  Dr.  Stuart,  I  am  afraid 


214  'i'HK   SISTERS   OF   TuRVVOOI). 

"  Of  what  ? ". 

"Of  her;  she  is  so— so  passionate ;  and  I  know 
she  feels  so  deeply  on  this  point." 

."It  is  probable  she  does.  Still  I  see  nothing  for 
It  but  to  ^ 

*  Beard  the  lion  in  his  den," 
The  Douglas  in  his  hall,' 

Miss  Edith  in  her  room.     SupposJ  you  step  up 
ask  her  to  come  down  to  breakfast." 
There  was  no  way  to  avoid  it,  Lucy  Lw,  and  with 
^,  same  air  of  hopeless  distress,  sl*e-  turned  away 
\went  slowly  u()-stairs  to  her  unwelcome  task 
pe  doer  she  had  to  pause, 'linaWe  for  some  time 
to  submon  courage  to  knock ;  then,  in  sheer- despera- 
tion, land  with  a  fast  beating  heart,  she  rapped 
She  did  not  expect  ah  answer,  but  to  her  surprise  the 
door  obened  and  Edith  stood  before  her. 

The  Wirl  was  wrapped  in  a  large  shawl,  and  was 
shivering  under  it,  though  the  morning  was  sultry  • 
her  fac^  was  set  and  stony,   her  large  black  eyes 
looked  linnaturally  large  and  luminous,  with  dark 
circles  uMer  them,  and  the  compressed  lips  and  bent 
brow  tola  their  own  tale  of  bitter  endurance.     It 
was  plain\to  see  the  first  shock  Av:^_over,  and  that* 
in  *h^  i^"^and  lonely  watch  of  that  dreary  last  night 
*med  some  resolution,  whether  of  forgive- 
ness or  re\^nge  she  best  knew.     Wrapped  in   the 
folding  the  door  handle,  she  stood  look- 
"■e,  -.  ..^.  sister  put^f  those  weird,  spectral  eyes, 
solemn  and  Silent. 
Luoy, 


m  a 


riotenrtremT)r,  essayea  once  or  twice 
Ho  speak,  falteted,  and  broke  down.    Naturally  timid 


-r 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 

and  shrinking,  Lucy  had  always  felt  a  dread  of  this 
dark,  fierce  Creole,  and  now,  in  her  bereavetnent,  she 
stood  before  her  as  she  might  have  before  a   half 
tamed  tigress  robbed  of  her  young, 

*'  You  will  not  be  angry,  Edith,  but  I " 

Edith  suddenly  lifted  her  hand,  and  interrupted  : 
"One  moment,  if  you  please.  I  do  not  know 
what  you  are  going  to  say  ;  but  I  give  you  warning 
beforehand,  not  to  say  one  word  of  what  is  past  and 
gone.  More— 1  never  want  to  hear  those  names 
from  you  or  any  one  in  this  house ;  if  I  do,  I  shall 
leave  it  five  minutes  after,  and  forever.  Now,  go 
on  with  what  you  came  to  say." 

"  I  had  no  intention  of  saying  one  word  about 

about "  Lucy  broke  down.     "  I  only  came  to  ask 

you  to  take  some  breakfast.     If  you   will  not  come 
down,  I  will  fetch  it  up  here." 

"  You  need  not.  I  will  go  down.  Have  you  any- 
thing more  to  say  to  me  ? " 

There  were  a  thousand  things  Lucy  would  like  to 
have  said,  but  she  dared  not  utter  one.  Sorrowfully 
she  turned  away. 

"  I  will  go  douii,"  Edith  rei^ated,  closing  the 
door,  "as  soon  as  the  bell  rings." 

Whatever  Lucy  had  looked  for  from  Edith,  she 
had  not  expected  this  ominous  calm,  and  it  filled  her 
with  more  foreboding  than  any  violence  could  have 
done.  Madge  had  joined  Dr.  Stuart  in  the  din- 
ing-room, and  Lucy  related  the  short  interview  that 
had  taken  place,  and  repeated  Edith's  warning. 
"  La  ! "  cried  Madge,  with  an  impatient  jerk  of 


rher^oulders,  «sW  miglit  have  spared  herself  the 
trouble!     I  am  sure  we'll  be  hard  up  for  something 


if*- 


p    2l6  THE   SISTKRS   OF   TORWOOD. 

to  say  wllen  we  want  to  talk  about  tiiat  disgraceful," 
misbehaved  pair,  Mr,  and  Mrs.  St.  Leon." 

The  breakfast  bgUV^ng  during  tliis  outburst,  and 
before  its  last  soufltt idied  away  Edith  quietly  walked 
into  the  room.  Her  toilet  was  as  carefully  made, 
her  hair  as  daintily  arranged,  her  manner  as  com- 
posed as  they  had  ever  seen  it ;  but  there  was  that 
in  her  face  that  would  have  warned  thenri  not  to 
trust  too  far  to  this  quietude,  even  if  her  own  lips 
had  not  done  so  already.  Except  that  they  were 
all  very  still  and  silent,  saying  what  was  said  in  very 
low  voices,  everything  was  just  the  same  as  ever. 
Just  the  same  as  ever,  too,  Edith  sat  down  at  the 
swcet'toned  old  parlor  organ^when  it  was  over,  and 
played  the  airs  she  loved  so  well,  from  Beethoven, 
so  sweet,  so  solemn,  so  sad.  Then,  still  the  same  as 
ever,  she  selected  a  book,  put  on  her  straw  hat,  antl 
went  out  into  the  grounds  for  a  morning  walk. 

And  so  it  was  all  over,  the  worst  had  arrived,  and 
nothing  was  to  come  of  it  after  all.  Madge  felt 
cheated,  and  made  no  secret  of  her  disappointment. 

"  To  think  !  "  resentfully  broke  out  the  youngest 
Miss  Torwood,  "  that  sha  should  take  that  mean 
Florence  at  her  word,  and  make  no  fuss  after  all. 
If  she  were  made  of  milk  and  water,  like  Lucy  now, 
nobody  would  wonder  ;  but  such  a  fire-eater  as  \vo 
all  took  her  to  be.  Oh !  if  I  weng m  her  place,  what 
a  jolly  row  there  would  have  been !  " 

"What  would  you  have  done?"    inquired  Dr. 
,    Stuart. 

"  Ah  !  you  would  like  to  know,  wouldn't  you  ? " 
said  Madge,  with  a  shower  of  tnysteffous  no(Ts7~ 
"  j^st  you  try  the  same  dodge  with  me,  and  you'll 

{  . 


• 


the'sistp:rs  of  torwood. 


217 


i 


find  out !  How  I  slioiikl  julrnire  to  luivo  Jiickeymo 
St.  Leon's  boautiful  face  within  roach  of  niy  nails  for 
about  ten  minutes— that's  all !  JJut,  thcn,^  I  always 
knew  how  it  would  he.  Wiiat  good  could  be  ex- 
pected from  a  man  with  such  a  name  as  thati!  " 

"  Her  quietness  is  the  strangest  thing  of  ail,"  said 
Lucy,  uneasily  ;  "  siie  can't  have  cared  so  much  for 
Mr.  St.  Leon  as  we  would  have  thought." 

Dr.  Stuart  smiled  to  himself  at  his  own  thoughts, 
but  said  nothing. 

"It  isn't  that,"  said  Madge,  who  was  ever  readv 
with  her  own  opinion,  "but  she's  a  Torwootl,  and 
consequently  too  plucky  to  wear  her  heart  on  her 
sleeve.  Even  you,  Lucy,'tliough  you  do  appear  as 
meek  as  a  now-born  kitten,  if  you  were  jilted,  would 
feel  the  Torwood  spirit  burning  witiiin  you  ;  and,  as 
for  me— but  the  English  language  is  too  weak  to  ex- 
press what  I  would  dq  in  such  a  case  ! " 

So  Lucy,  and  Madge,  and  Dr.  Stuart,  each  with 
her  or  his  own  thoughts  of  Edith,  went  about  their 
daily  occupations,  and  Edith,  proud  as  a  Spartan, 
kept  her  thoughts  to  herself.  Li  one  thing  Madge 
was  right.  Edith  was  not  one  to  wear  her  heart  on 
her  sleeve ;  she  would  rather  have  been  struck  in  the 
face  than  pitied.  But  she  suffered  physically  and 
mentally ;  they  all  could  see  that. 

During  the  days  that  followed,  and  many  did  fol- 
low, in  one  of  her  late  evening  rambles  among  the 
rank  herbage  of  the  shrubbery,  some  breath  of  .mi- 
asma, lurking  in  the  low  swampy  meadows,  had 
entered  her  lungs,  and  from  that  time  her  v«ins  were- 
filled  with  a  low  consuming  fever  that  was  slowly 
burning  her  life  away.     All  the  life,  all  the  spirit,  a'u 


'  i' 

:i-: 


21^ 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


the  energy  she-had  ever  possessed  was  ea^ten  away 
by  the  low  fire  of  tever.  J.artguid  of  step,  dull  of 
eye,  listless  of  motion,  faint  of  voice,  she  wand^-ed 
from  room  to  room  of  the  old  Rouse,  the  shadow  of 
her  former  self.  Another  fever  came  wUJi  ft,  a  des- 
perate longing  for  home,  for  her  sunny.Cuba,  that 
tortured  her  day  and  night.  If  she  coul^ibnly  wan- 
der under  the  orange  trees,  and  feci  |fi'^1t  scented 
breath  on  her  wan  eheek  ;  if  she  could  on^'  sit  in  the 
tropical  sunshine  once  more,  she  felt  she  ni'ight  be 
well.  But  she  wa^  too  weak  to  have  gone,  were  it 
even  in  her  power,  so  the  listless  days  and  sleepless 
nights  were  wearing  on,.an,d  with  them,  Edith  was 
wearing  away  like  the  waniog^  moon. 

They  were  all  very  kind  aqi^gentle  with  her  now  ; 
even  Madame  Torwood  was  tender  with  the  pale, 
weak  girl,  who  never  complained..  Lucy  was  the 
most  devotwl  of  nurses,  anticipating  her  etery  wish. 
Madge  did  what  she  could,  did  her  best,  and,  alaK 
for  poor  madcap  Madge,  that  best  was  not  ni'uch. 

"1  wish' I  could  do  something,  you  know,"  she 
said,  pathetically  in  confidence  to  Dr.  Stuart,  "  but 
I  can't.  1  try  not  to  bounce  and  slam  doors,  and  not 
talk  in  a  voice  pitched  at  the  top  of  the  octave ; 
but  law!  what  good  does  that  do  Edith  ?  ][  don't 
believe  there  ever  was  such  another  r9ugb,  boister- 
ous^ hateful  creature  as  I  am." 

Bnt  of  all  who  were  kind  to  the  Creole  none  did 
so  much  as  Dr.  Stuart.  The  rare  bouquets  that 
every  day  found  their  way  to  her  room,  the  number- 
less magazines,  books,  music,  delicate  fruit,  ^and 


countless  trifles,  small  in  themselves,  but  all  by  some 
strange  magnetism  the  very  things  she  had  been 


*V 


V. 


't 


aJ^r.,. 


"T^T 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


'V 


V 


219 


wishirig  for,  capie  from  him.  She  did  not  know  this 
at  first;  but  one  day  when  Mtidgo  came  uj>stiiirs, 
with  an  unusually  gorgeous  bouquet  of  hot-house 
flowers,  Edith,  lying  wearily  on  a  lounge,  rose  upon 
her  elbow,  her  dull  eyes  sparkling  with  some  of  their 
old  luster. 

"  How  beautiful !  how  fragrant !  I  was  just  wish- 
ing for  violets  !  Madge,"  impetuously, "  where  do  all 
these  lovely  flowers  come  from  ? "  , 

Madge  placed  them  in  a  porcelain  vase  with  care, 
and  stepped  back  to  see  the  effect.  * 

"Brom  my  castle  in  Spain;  there's  a  patch,  of 
ground  at  the  back  of  the  castle  where  such  trifles 
grow  of  themselves.  Perfectly  mag,  ain't  they  ?"- 
£hat  being^hOrt  for  magnificent. 

,"]Madge7l  half  suspect,  but  I  want  to  b6  sure— 
who  sent  them  ? " 

'^Wouldn't  tell  for  a  kingdom!  Promised  him, 
on  the  honor  of  a  Torwood,  I  wouldn't." 

That  little  tell-tale  pronoun  !  Edith's  eyes  turned 
resolutely  away  from  the  flowers,  and  her  brows 
contracted  a  little  as  she  rose  up.  Madge  had 
flashed  out  as  she  had  floated  in,  and  Edith  went 
slowly  down-stairs,  through  the  hall,  and  out  on  the 
piazza.  As  she  stood  there,  the  person  of  whom  she 
was  thinking,  Dj-.  Stuart  himself,  came  up,  and  made 
her  in  passing  a  courtly  bow. 

"  Are  you  better  this  afternoon.  Miss  Edith  ?  you 
hardly  look  as  well  as  yesterday,  I  think." 

There  was  something  so  genial  and  kindly  in  his 

-«>ice,  such  real  solicitude  in  his  face,  so  much  that 

was  good  in  his  frank  blue  eyes,  that  Edith  could 

not  repel  him.    The  mocking  smile  and  derisive 


y 


v.. 


220 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


glunco  wercnp  Itnigtfr  there,  were  nev^r  there  when 
he  spbko  to  her,  and  Eclitli  was  renieiiilk'ring  all  he 
had  dohe,  for  her^,  so  delicately  and  unol^tiusively  of 
late."  -        ^     ''     '    ^  ' 

*"I  do  not  feel  any  better,"  she  said,  "  and  I '' — 
thank  you  for  your  flowers,  she  wanted  to  say,  but 
sBe  could  not-somehow,  and  stopped  short. 

"I  am  very  sorry,"' and  he  looked  as  though  he 
meant  it.  "  Thp afternoon  is  lovely,  and  a  walk  on 
the  beach  would  do  you  good,  1  think.  Or,  if  jou 
feel  too  weak,  and  woiild  ride  or  sail  ■  with  Madge 
and  me -" 

"  Thank  you,  I  am'  quite  strong  enough  to  walk." 

"  I  saw  Father  Peterson  in  Torwoodtown  just 
now,  and  he  bade  rie  tell  you  he  would  call  to  see 
you  to-morrow,  and  fet<;h  you  the  book  you  wanted." 

She  bent  her  head  only,  and  Dr.  Stuart  went  in, 
ajid  Edith's  memory  was  haunted  by  a  hundred 
little  kind  things  he  had  done  for  her  comfort  of 
late,  majiing  up  in  number  what  they  wanted  in 
weight,  all  in  such  a  retiring,  secret  way,  too. 

"  I  don't  want  to  like  that  ma V  she  said,  speak- 
ing uncbnscioiisly  alone  ;  "  and  yet- '* 

"  And  yet  oiip  can't  help  it,"  said  a  voice  behind 
her ; "  my  case  exactly." 

It  was  Matlge,  of  course.  Edith  only  smiled,  and 
turned  to  go  dcAvn  the  piazzji  steps. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  ?  "  Madge  asked. 

The  faint  smile  was  still  on  Edith's  lips. 

"  To  obey  Dr.  Stuart,  my  dear.  He  has  pre- 
scrbed  a  walk  on  the  beach,  and  I  am  going  to  ta^e 
Tt:^-  -  --  ; - - - .: 


.^■ 


"  Shall  I  go  with  you  ?  " 


^  ■m^K.'-  tftttJkAA     i.a 


iT^ai 


%■ 

-'••'i^^i 

W^"^ 

■       /      - 

\ 

■^ 

4_ 

*. 

1-:'"      - 

•       . 

'  -. 

' 

.44- 

THE 

SISTERS 

OF 

TORWOOD. 

221 

"  You  had  better  not.  I  walk  so  very  slowly  I 
would  tire  you  to  death." 

"  All  righty"  said  Madge,  throwingup  iMirhatand 
catching  it  dextrously  ;  "  I  despise  slow  walkingbe- 
yond  everything,  and,  besides,  I  find  my  constitu- 
tion l-equires  a  sail  ;  so  good-by  tp  you." 


s 


^■i^s^^ 


.•<*« 


222 


THE  SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


^. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


AS    THE    SHADOWS    FELL. 


w  Ji^^'Ll        l"'^^^"*  ""^^  *^^  P^««  ««^  ^hich  Edith 
walked  through  the  tangled  shrubbery  toward  the 
shore;  but  slow  as  it  was,  she  was  completely  ex- 
,     hausted  by  the  time  it   was  reached.     Under  the 
cool  shadow  of  a  large  willow  a  rustic   chair  of 
boughs  had  been  erected  for  her  accommodation,  by 
Dr.  Stuart,  and  she  sank  down  within  its  green  arms 
her  h^art  palpitating  in  great  surges  against  her  side.' 
She  was  lying  back,   with  panting  lips  and  closed 
eyes  when  a  step  behind  her  ma<le  her  look  round  • 
l>r.  Stuart  again,  this  time  with  two  bunches  of 
USCI0U8  green  and  purple  grapes,  wrapped  in  vine 
leaves,  and  which  the  next  instant  Nvere  lying  in  her 

thl^tZ^"""  ^«en  telling  ml  of  the  feverish  thirst 
that  has  tormented  you  all  day,  and  in  my  medicil 

trudin?"'^  ^  ^''""''  ^'""P"'-  ^"^"«^  "^«  for  in- 
He  wa^  turning  away  again,  but  she  called  hi,n 
back.  Feverishly  thirsty,  even  then  she  had  been 
wishing  for  something  to  allay  it,  and  his  gift  was 
most  welcome  indeed.  With  an  impulsive  frankness 
that  came  to  her  sometimes,  she  held  out  her  hand 
-I"!.^^  »      ^""^^"  f"'^"<^j^qess  to  him, 


-Dr.  Stuart,'^  she  said,  something  like  color  flqsh- 


*ik. 


e 


THE    SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


^ 


223 


ing  for  a  socond  into  her  colorless  face,  "  3'ou  are 
very  kind,  and  it  is  tim'e  for  me  to  thank  vou  at 
least." 

"  I  require  no  thanks,"  he  said  hastily,  just  touch- 
ing the  poor  wan  hand,  and  dropping  it  again.  "  If 
my  humble  offerings  havT*  given  you  a  moment's 
pleasure  I  am  more  than  repaid." 

Edith  lookt^d  at  him  wistfully,  hut  his  eyes  were 
averted,  and  his  face  strangely  grave. 

"Perhaps  I  have  wronged  you,"  Slie  said ;  " I 
don't  know.  If  I  have  thought  more  hardly  of  you 
than  I  should,  I  beg  your  pardon." 

"Edith— Miss  Torwood— "^ 

"  Oh,.say  Edith— I  like  h  best  from  my  friends." 

She  smiled  a  little  at  herself  to  think  she  was  say- 
ing such  a  thing  to  this  abhorred  young  doctor;  hut 
no  answering  smile  moved  the  dark  gravity  of  his 
earnest  face. 

"  You  have  not  thought  more  hardly  of  me  than  I 
deserved— than  I  seem  to  deserve,  at  least.  How 
could  you  do  otherwise  than  despise  one  who  could 
seemingly  agree  to  rob  four  ori)han  girls  of  their 
birthright?" 

Her  face  clouded  and  she  sat  silent.  Why  did  he 
remind  her  of  that  when  she  was  trying  to  think 
well  of  him,  trying  to  see  him  at  his  best  ? 

"  Perhaps  I  am  not  really  so  bad,  so  despicable  as 
I  have  appeared  ;  but  that  involves  a  long  explana- 
tion, and  you  may  not  be  equal  to  it  now— are 
you?" 

^i^^^sh^sddy  wearily^ 'Vl^ffl  feeble  this  even- 


mg.    To-morrow,  some  other  time,  I  will  listeh  to 
what  you  have  to  say," 


i^A 


"/T' 


-y^ 


/ 


JH  THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 

"I  have  many  things  to  say,  and  when  you  have 
heard  and  answered  I  shall  leave  TorwoodTowe^ 
perhaps  for  a  time,  perhaps—  ''  a  pause  and  a 
little  tremor  of  the  steady  voice,  "  forever  » 
*•  Forever !  "  Edith  echoed  faintly. 
"  Yes  ;  it  all  depends  on.  you  !     And  now,  ffood- 
evenmg.    Eat  your  grapes,  and  do  not  stay  outff^r 
t|e  dew  begms  to  fall."  ^ 

^Breaking  into  a  grave  smile  for  the  first  time  at 
her  wondermg  look,  Dr.  Stuart  walked  away      EcH  1 

t'fo  t;  T  ^-  --^-<-'y  fo'-  a  mLen^t 
two    but  she  was   too  weak   and  listless,  even  to 

al.t  le child  eatmghergrapesandwatchingdreamilv 
the  boats  sadmg  by  over  the  sunny  waves  ^ 

_  A  ship  far  outlay  at  anchor,  and  the  sailors  were 

kept  time  to  the^r  music,  and  the  July  breeze  mur 
mured  mysticalfy  among  tlie  leaves  and  brancheTof 
the  golden  willow  over  her  head.     In  the  dr^arnv 

of  birds  and  waves   and  wind,  Edith's   eyes  grew 
heaw,  her, pale  finge,^  ceased  to  lift  the  LpS to 

from  which  people  wake  aTicI  spring  „p  U  of  un 
defined  horror  of-the,v  know  nit  „lat.''  Edith  ^l' 
co„scK,„,  in  her  distetnpered  vision  of  some  hTX 
and  shatmloss  monster,  with  eyes  and  tongne  of  do- 


Tipon  and^  devour  her}  while  afar  off,  fookin 


g  on, 


r^c- 


THE  SISTERS' OF  TORWOOD.     -        225 

Stood  liei-  treacherous  sister  and  false  lover,  mock- 
ing her  with  their  deriding  eyes: 

With  a  start  she  awoke,  and  sat  up  in  a  violent 
tremor  and  faintness,  awoke  to  find  the  evenino- 
shadows  dark  around  hev,  and  the  chill  eveninrr 
wmd  coming  raw  from  the  sea;  awoke  to  find  U 
not  all  a  dream,  for  a  shape  stood  beside  her,  loomin.^^ 
up  gigantic  in  t!.e  dim  light-a  shape  that  clasped 
her  suddenly  in  its  shrouded  arms,  and  muffled  her 
head  in  a  great  shawl. 

Then  for  an  instant  of  time  all  Edith's  strenrrth 
came  back-frantically  she  struggled-with  one  des- 
perate wrench  she  tore  off  the  sliawl,  and  one  long, 
wild,  shrill  shriek  awoke  the  lonely  echoes  of  sho?e  ' 
and  wood. 

There  was  a  fierce  imprecation,  a  rough  hand 
grasped  her  throat,  a  horrible  sense  of  strangulation 
came  over  Edith,  stars  came  dancing  in  a  blood-red 
mist  before  her  eyes,  a  roaring  sound  as  of  many 
waters  filled  her  ears,  and  thus,  with  one  long  con- 
vulsive quiver  life  was  gone,  and  her  assailant  bore 
away  a  stark  and  rigid  burden 
15 


M 
fill 


\'t     X 


226 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD: 


CHAPTER  XX. 

IN    THE     HOSPITAL. 

Off  with  the,„  to  sea,  like  i3o;7„r  ^  ::^„r":o' 

tha  t.t  ,vou  ,1  do  a„y  man's  heart  good  to "2  it " 

ins  fi«4    a  ,L         1"  r'"''  Sreat-coats,  and  blaz- 
poli^'st  /',?"  r'T'"  ""1""'^'™^  "•""I"'  could 

tranipin.r  with  CZ,        ^  '''"'*  wayfare.^s 

clutched  inT^hK     ,'^""''  ""''  '""■'  frantically- 
enjo^menr  ""'''  '"*  *  '"»'»„»  sense  of 

Three  men  were  walking  together  dnw„  P    ^    > 

ten  m  nutt  Wore     n  ^  "'""""'  '""  ''^»'"  '™.v  "  "ot 

«ade  them  glad"  meet  T"'""'""  "f  sympathy 

_  woodtown-T,,^,  P°u'„  ■■'.."'":  ""  ^'"  ^°'-  - 

MoPherson   »n7^  "twsou,  tire- Rev.  Alexander 

^'''  '"<'  ^""''g  Mr.  Moreen,  who  used  t6    . 


■^ 


JHE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOU.  227 

tZ.Vr°  "^°,'"  """  "'"■'""«  ''"'"  '<»™  to  kill 
tunc  hshmg  ana  gunning,  and  who  at  tl.o  first  clash 

of  war  bad  gone  «•!,„,.„  glory  led  Inn,,  and  so  o„ 

that  .s  to  Siiy,  had  taken  to  soldiering,  to  kill  that 

mvme,ble  enen.y  of  his,  Tin,e.     Yonng  JFr.  Cree, 

>vas  yonng  L.entenant  Moreen  now  ;°but  of  wh , 

value  were  all  his  bright  buttons  an,    J  si  o,d, tr 

knots  s,nee  Madge  Torwoo,rs  black  c^L  w  ,"  no 

near  to  ook  on  an.I  ap|>,.„ve.    Mure  lo„.,  ilZe 

Tonvood  sa,d  "  No"  one  ,lay  to  a  very  ten  ler  pro! 

stuck  to  t ;  so  Mr.  Moreen  went  to  the  ,var  desolated 
feohng  that  he  woul.l  rather  be  shot  than  o  herwise 
smce  the  only  blessing  life  had  for  hi,,,,>oside   pi' 
ale  and  cga,.,  was  ,lenie,l  hi,n.     The  Southern  bub 
le    ,  How  by  h,n,   harn.lessly,  however,   wh.ie  tl„.v 
..,,1  low  n,any  a  better  ,nan ;  an,l  Lieuh-nant  Moi^e,; 
"und  a„,l  „„„,ai,ne,l,  is  walkiag  along  the  wind v 
treots,  busy  ,n  conversation,  an,l  frantic  atten,,  u 
t"  keep  h,s  „„|itary  cap  on.     Sai,l  cap  being  se  ev 
c  ss.vely  on  one  side  of  his  l„,,d,  and  the  gale  beint 
of  the  h.ghest,  ,s  .-athcr  dillicnlt  to  be  kept  f,.,,,! 
%.ng  ,„,o  the  regions  of  space  an,l  at  length  a 
nncomn,„„ly  obstrepoi-ous  gu.t,  howling  pahfnllv 
long,  makes  a  grab  .at  it,  ami  whi,.U  it  t,  °„,  ,p|iantl  v 
<lo\vn  the  street.  ^         -^ 

"  Oh,  hang  it !  »  exclaims  Lieutenant  Moreen  in  a 
passion,  only  prevented   from   using  still  mor^  for- 
cible language  by  the  presence  of  the  clerffv      »  T 
To    ;.'  ^«"^«""^J«^  thing  would  go  at  last '' " 

-  v^^  ^-'y  ^^'^^^^yedM^..  Mcf^ersoff  Witt  graviW-— 
eyeing  the  gambols  of  the  frisky  headpiece:    -'if 
young  soldiers   will  vvear  their  caps  on  three  hairs 


:^'t 


.« 


':z'... 


22^   r  /    THE  SrsTERS  Op\tORWOOD. 

.when  tho  wihd  is  fit  to  blo\v  tie  horns  off  the  cmvs 
what  else  ejfn  they  expect  ?    .c4o  after4t."  ' 

There  being  no  alternative,- the  lieutenant,  with  a 
very  ill  grace,  went,  and  returiied  very  cross  and 
red  in  the  face.  \ 

"  Never  mind,-  lieutenant,"  saic\  Father  Peterson, 
.  laughipg  good-naturedly,  as  even\priests.AwIl  doa 
other  people's  misfortune,  "  there  aVe  worse  disasters 
at  sea.     Go  on  with  what  you  werdsayino-'' 
-    "  About  Stuart  ?  "  said  the  you4  man'brighten- 
ing  up  at  once   with  all    a  soldi^'s   enthusiasm. ' 
Hell    sir,   as  I   told  you,   he  fou4t  like  a  liOn 
through    the   whole    engagement,    s\ved    General 
K         s  life,  very  nc^Mfly  losing  his  own  hi  theact,  and 
was  a  sort  of  modern  ,C(x«ir  de  Lion  thWnighout  the 
whole  affair.  ^  He  got  his  reward,' ti.oull,,  which  is 
more  than  we  all  do,  for  they  made  Ifli  a  colonel 
lor  it."  ^  ^ 

..      "  I  saw  all  about  it  in   the  papers,     lou  .serve 
under  him,  eh  ? "  ^ '  \ 

"  Yes,  sir !  "  said  the  lieutenant  emphatica\ly,.  « I\\ 
be  sorry  to  serve  under  any  one  else.  Th^  whblo 
regiment  adore  him."  \ 

"He  always  was  a  fine  fellow,"    said  thLriest. 

I  liked  him  fa  Torwoodtown,  biit  I  never  tlou-ht 
he  possessed  the  stuff  heroes  are  mad/w<)t«»     \    ° 

"  Nor  the  stuff  philanthropists  are  madi  of" 
chimed  in  Mr.  McPherson  «  You  have  said  lil "  has 
founded  a  private  hospital  at  his  own  expense\ere 
in  the  city,  with  the  very  best  nurses  and  medical 
attendants."  " 


for  when  he  is  done  fighting  he  takes  to  doctoriV 


J-      i 


i 


'  ^ 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  229 

by  way  of,..being  always  busy.     Well,  goo<l-(lay  to 
,  your  reverence— I  turn  off  hero." 

Lifting  his  cap  in  a  military  salute,  the  soldier  went 

roundacorn^,and  the  two  clergymen  walked  on 
ffethpr 


I  used  to  pride  myself  a  little,"  began  Mr.  Mc- 
Pherson,  after  a  short  silence,  "  on  being  somewhat 
ot  a  judge  of  human  nature,  but  I  confess  this  man 
baffled  me.  I  never  could  quite  make  him  out  at 
lorwoodtown." 
"  IIow  was  that?" 

^  "  About  that  will,  you  know.     You  heard  of  it,  of 
course?  '  ' 

"  Of  Judge  Tor wobd's  ?    Surely.     What  had  that 
to  do  with  it  ?  " 

"  Everything !    What  would  you  have  thought  of 
him  had  he  complied  with  it  ?  " 

"  And  robbed  the  orphan  sisters.  AVell  I  must 
say  1  could  hardly  have  thought  him  an  archano-el  " 
,  '  Thatis  where  he  puzzled  me,"  said  Mr.  McPher- 
son  •  «  I  itever  could  clearly  make  out  that  he  in- 
tended to  refuse  the  bequest,  and  yet  I  could  never 
persuade  myself  that  he  meant  to  accept.  Dr.  Stuart 
was  an  eccentric  fellow  in  those  days." 

"  Is  he  not  now  ? " 
f    "He is  a  changed  man,  sir-a  grave  earnest  m»n   ' 
living  with  a  purpose -a  benefactor,  as  I  said,  to  his 
race. ' 

"What  has  wrought  this  change?" 
'*  The  loss  of  Edith  Torwood,''' 
Both  wegB  silent  then. 


"  He  never  really  intended  profiting  by  this  most 
unfair  will  ?  "  the  priest  said. ' 


1. 


's^^ 


■  H 


i  '^\ 


''■  i 


^ 


X  ' 


230.  THE   SISTERS   OF   TOKWOOD. 

"  Certainly  not.  The  legacy  Avl.ich  made  him  a 
rich  man,  and  of  which  his  mother  and  all  the 
world  were  ignorant,  had  fallen  to  him  about  a 
month  before,  and  he  was  as  wealthy  as  any 
Christian  has  a  right  to  bo.  But  as  I  snid,  he  was 
eccentric,  and  it  pleased  him  to  come  to  Torwood 
Towers,  and  see  the  play  played  out." 

"Ah!  the  play  that  began  like  a  comedv  ended 
tragically  enough.  So  he  really  meant  tJ  marry 
Edith  Torwood  if"  '  _ 

"  If  she  would  have  had  him,  and  I  think  myself 
she  would  when  she  knew  him,  and  he  intended  to 
drop  his  mask,  and  show  hiniself  to  her  as  he  really 
was.     lie  was  the  last  one  that  e^er  saw   her  on 
that  fatal  night." 
And  no  clew  has  been  found  all  this  time  f 
"Not  the  slightest  that  I  have  heard  of." 
"There  can  be  no  doubt,  I  suppose,  that  she  was 
murdered?" 

"None  at  all!  There  was  the  blood,  the  indica- 
tions of  the  struggle,  every -thing  to  confirm  it,  and 
the  sea  was  at  hand  to  make  a  winding  sheet  that 
would  tell  no  tale." 

"And  so  the  whole aflFair  is  to  be iiWt^lved  in  mys- 
tery jmtil  that  same  sea  shall  give  up' its  dead  '  Do 
.  you  know  I  liked  that  Creole  girl;  with  all  her  pride 
and  fire,  she  was  as  humble  in  some  ways  as  little 
child.  She  used  to  play  at  the  church  every  Sunday 
•  and  the  m  usic  her  fingers  could  evoke  out  of  our  poor 
old  melodion  was  something  wonderful." 

"  I  have  heard  her.   Ah  !  it  was  a  great  pity  !  There 
_iv_a4  something  grand  in  the  gill's  nature  that  made-= 


^ one  admire  her  in  spite  of  one's  f^elf .     I  dpn't  wonder 


*.. 


^... 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  231 

Stuart  has  been  a  changed  rnun  since  be  lost  J/er 
though  there  sva,  a  time  when  I  fancied  Lucy  woukl 
have  been  his  choice."  .  "^ 

^^  "And  there  was  a  time,"  smiled  Father  Peterson, 

when  I  thought  Lucy  would  have  been  Mrs.  Mc- 
Pherson  before  fhis." 

Mr.  McPhersbn  produced  l^is  snuff-l?ox 

tZ^^n\r"V.  ^^^"'"«^^VI  don't  know  al,o<.t 
that!  On  the  whole,  I  think  rU^see  about  it!  Are 
you  going?"     ,  -  ^ 

"  Yes ;  this  is  my  destination.     You  are  for  the 
iiospital,  you  said  ? " 

"  I  think  so.     I  want  to  hive  a  look  at  the  new 
mirses,  Sisters  of  Charity;  and  capital  nurses  they 
nake.    The  colonel  told  me  he  was  in.porting  a  batch 
of  them,  and  they  were  to  be  there  yesterday  " 

Smding  at  the  notion  of  a  batch  of  nuns,  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Peterson  entered  a  house  near,  and  Mr  McPher 
son  went  on  his  way  alone.  That  way  led  him  into 
a  quiet  remote  street,  where  the  city  noises  came 
muffled  and  faint,  and  toward  a  large  stone  building 
m  an  inclosed  court-yard,  looking  drear  and  ghastly 
m  the  gray  light  of  this  windy  spring  day  At  the 
outer  gate  two  mmjtood,  one  tall  and  distinguished 
looking,  an  ^WtrfS^cloak  and  military  cap,  the  other 
an  orderly  standing  on  guard. 

The  tall  man  in  the  cloak  turned  at  the  approach 

of  the  minister,  disclosing  the  face  of  Dr.  Paul  Stuart, 

but  not  the  face  he  used  to  weir.    No,  it  was  strancrely 

altered-brown,   grave,    earnest,   the  old  mocking 

ightgoneoutoft^ 

the  old  doubtful  smile  vanishetl  from  the  compressed 
and   mustached   mouth.     Yes,   he   was  a  changed 


232  THE   SISTKRS   OK   TOKWOOD. 

man  ;  his  very  voice  was  .not  the  sanic-vvas  verv 

out    i    hr„.,'"";."c2et"^f°"'"  ""  ^'""'  "o""""" 
.   to  what  I  have  heen  sa;ing. '      ™'  "'"'  ""'  "'**"" 

The  orderly  touched  Iiis  cap 
^        "  Yes,  colonel."  •        - 

The    two   men,  the  colonel  and  the   cler^rvman 
turned  into  the  pave.l  yard,  side  by  side         ^^         ' 
lSui)I)ose  this  hospital  of  yours  is  filled   aftor 
your  recent  battle,"  the  latter  said  ^'         ' 

"Pretty  well-yes.     And   who    do   you    suppose 
makes  one  of  its  inmates?''  ^        suppose 

"  How  can  I  tell  ?     Who  ?  " 
"  Captain  An^^us  Torwood." 
J' You  don't  say  so  !     Wounded?" 

"  1  es  ;  but  not  badly.     We  are  sworn  l,rothers  in 
anns  now-sorl  of  modern  David  and  Jonathan  ' 
smd.n.shghtly  ;".„d  thegood  sisters  will  w"^^ 
as^right  as  a  trivet  in  no  time." 
"  The  sisters  are  here,  then  '^" 

^vood  ?     He  did  some  splendid  fighting  in  this  l.st 
engagement  of  ours."  o  ^"  "m  last 

"  I  don't  mind  if  I  do,"  said  Mr.  M^erson      "  f 
du  not  particularly  a<lmire  him  in  CvooTtown      ' 
|n>^,  ..s  other  folks  have  changed,  perhapst  ;;«; 

terecf  tl"  fi  -  r'''  T"'^  ^"^'^"^^  ^^^"-^'  -«  "-^^ 
tered  the  f^rst  ward,  where,  in.  long  rows  of  U^s 
the  sick  soldiers  lay.  ^  ^      ' 

Passing  do^n  the^  lon^aisl^  i^tween TBT ^5^ 
the  young  colonel  paused  there  to  speak  tc^e  poor 


/* 


";■    • .   •.  .*- 


THE  SISTERS  Of"  TORWOOD. 


233 


fellows,  whose  eyes  brightened,  and  whose  pale  faces 
lit  gkidly  at  the  sight  of  their  commander.  Here  and 
there  the  black-robed  sisters  were  Hitting  about, 
noiseless  ministering  angels,  shod  with  the  shoos  of 
silence,  ami  with  touch  and  voice  tenderly  mod- 
ulated to  si^t  suflFering  ears. 

Reaching  one  bed  near  the  end  of  the  row,  the 
colonel  came  k/a  halt.  A  man,  whoso  swarthy  face, 
whitened  bv^^ss  of  blood,  and  looking  still  more 
white  c(^n>^asted  witfi  his  jetty  hair  and  mustache, 
recline<y|^roppod  up  by  i)illows,  with  one  of  the  sis- 
ters sbtndiiig  beside-  him  preparing'  some  cooling 
drauifiit. 

-morning,  sister,"  said  the  colonel.    "  How  is 
patient  to-day  ? " 
The  sister  looked  up,  smiling. 
'*  A  most  impatient  patient,  colonel ;  he  is  chafing 
himself  into  a  fever  at  his  conii||enfent.     ller^,  sir, 
drink  this,  and  deny  it  if  you  can.'''     ■ 

Angus  Torwood  drained  the  offered  potion,  halfi 
snftiling,  too. 

"  Good-day  to  you,  colonel.     I  fear  I  must  plead 
guilty  to  my  kind  nurse's  charge.     Why— " 

Ho   stopped    short,  looking  wonderingly  at   the 
clergyman,  while  the  nun  moved  away. 

"  I  bring  an  old  f  ri«^nd  to  see  you,  Torwopd.     You 
remember  him,  I  know." 

Captain  Angus  Torwood  held  out  his  hand. 

"  My  memory  is  a  good  one.     I  hope  Mr.  McPher- 
son  finds  himself  well  ?  " 

^"  Never   feettee.     Serpy  4p   se§  yott  here,    trty— 
young  friend,  but  it  is  the  fortune  of  war.     What 
is  it?" 


if  I 


u 


f 


/■ 


234 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


"  A  saber-thrust,  that  has  lost  me  more  blood  than 
1  can  conveniently  spare,  but  nothing  of  any  con- 
f—-  ^^^Ho  !  What's  gone  wrong  with  the  colonel « 
I'V  Jove  !  he's  going  to  fuint !  » 

He  might  well  stait  and  exclaim.  Colonel  Stuart 
stanchngquietly  by  the  bedside,  had  suddenly  turned' 
as  white  as  death,  and  grasped  a  chair  for  support 
He  uttered  no  cry  nor  exclamation  :  he  had  onlv  re- 
:  coded  back,  as  if  at  some  awful  sight,  turning  white 
even  to  his  lips.  What  was  it  at  ?  There  was  noth- 
ing to  I)e  seen  but  the  wounded  soldiers  lying  around 
no  one  pas^ng  by  but  the  nursing  sisters.  ' 

Mr.  McFherson  started,  and  took  out  his  snuff-box 
to  relieve  himself  by  a  pinch. 

"  Shall  I  fetch  you  a  glass  of  water,  colonel  ?  You 
do  look  uncommonly  bad,  I  allow.  Anvthinff 
wrong?  "  ^^  -^        6 

Colonel  Stuart,  still  startlingly  pale,  sank  into 
chair. 

"Nothing  that  water  can  help.  I  have  had  a 
blow,  that  is  all.  Don't  mind  me  ;  it  will  be  over 
presently."  '  ■/ 

There  was  a  table  near.  Colonel  Stuar/ leaned 
his  elbow  on  it,  his  forehead  on  his  hand,  anii  remain- 
ed immovable.  Mr.  McPhersonf  very  n^ch  mysti- 
hed,  went  off  to  the  next  row  of  bed^,  and  Angus 
,  Tprwood  sat  and  stared  in  greatest  wonder  It 
was  lon^  before  Colonel  Stuart  looked  up,  and  when 
lie  did  his  face  was  like  marble.  / 
\  "Captain  Torwood,"  he  said,/ are  you  ^ronff 
^ugfa,  to  bear  I  shock  ?  "  / 

"  A  shockl!LAngus  repeated^  stariflgfaartier  than 


« 


f'^ 


"V 


/      THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOPS,,,  235 

"Tes;  something  very  strange;  sometiiing  more" 
won(l,erful  than  anything  in  fairy  tales  h-^  just  hap- 

Captain  '^oruood's  only  reply  to  this  \Hs  an  in- 
crease of  staring,  if  such  a  thing  was  possible,  while 
an  idea  shot  through  his.  mind  that  his  colonel  was 
suddenly  going  mad.  | 

"I  want  to  tell  you,  if  you  are  strong  ehough  to 
bearit;  but  I  fear  the  shock  it  will  occasion  may 
mjureyou,"  "         y  *^ 

"  Injure  me  1  '  Shock  !  Colonel,  I  don'i^now  in  - 
the  least  what  you  are  driving  at."  I 

"  I  will  tell  you  then  ;  but  promise  me  not  to  cry 
out  or  exclaim."  ^    .    * 

^  "I  promise.  What  the  deuoe  is- it ? "  ' 
•  Colonel  Stuart  bent  down  and  whispered  one  short 
phrase-four  little  words,  but  their  effect  was  magi- 
cal. Angus  Torwood,  forgetting  his  promise  and 
his  weakness,  started  up  in  bed  with  a  cry  that  rang 
through  the  hospital  ward. 

«  Hush  I "  exclaimed  Colonel  Stuart,  graspintr  his 
arm.  « I  warned  you.  Not  one  word,  not  one%i<rn 
to  betray  what  I  have  told  you.  Lie  down  and  listen 
to  me." 

With  eyes  that  seemed  starting  from  their  sockets, 
Angus  Torwood  complied,  and  Colonel  Stuart,  bend- 
ing over  him,  spoke  earnestly  and  rapidly.  Mr.  Mc- 
Pherson,  coming  up  three  minutes  later,  caught  his 
last  words.  •  *  :? 

"  If  you  comply,  I  am  certain  of  success.     Do  you  ' 

jMak^Qu  a^&ufflcientlj^amster  x)f  yourself  to-^e^ 
as  I  have  told  you  ? " 

"I  will  try,"  said  Angus,  in  a  bewildered  sort  <^i 


% 


M 


i^i 


m 


t: 


^,i,iiijis^ 


1 


. 


:)■ 


236  THE   srSTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 

way  ;  "  but  I  hardly  Know  whether  I  am  walking 
or  ilreaming." 

"Neither  do  I,"  interrupted  Mr.  ^IcPherson. 
"  Whicli  of  you  two  gentlemen  yelled  just  now  V 

Colonel  Stuart  arose  smiling,  but  with  a  glance 
of  warning  at  Angus. 

"  Captain  Torwood  had  an  unexpected  twinge,  and 
cried  out  like  a  young  lady.  AVhat  do  you  think  of 
my  hospital?" 

"  Everything  that  is  good.  Have  you  quite  re- 
covered yourself  ? "  ' 

"  (iuite,  thank  you.     Are  you  ready  to  go  ?  " 
"  I  am  altogether  at  your  service." 
"  Then,  good-by,  Captain  Torwood,  and  good  luck 
to  you.    You  will  be  as  well  as  ever,  if  not  better 
before  I  get  back."      .  ' 

They  shook  hands,  the  colonel  in  a  maniier  full  of 
deep  but  suppressed  itrxcitement ;  the  captain  in  a 
way  hopelessly  d'l^l  and  bewildered. 

Mr.  McPh|f«6HTooked.from  one  to  the  other  with 
■a  keen,  susj^ous  glance,  but  followed  the  colonel 
out  withoi^aying  an,>«tliing.  Once  in  the  keen 
outer  air,  #10  young  officer  took  off  his  cai>,  and  let 
the  cold^wind  lift  his  fair  hair,  with  a  long,  long 
breath,  Inxloi/ig  §o  he  caught  the  minister's^eye^ 
and^a<l  his  suspicions  therein. 

^'  Yes,"  said  Mr.  McPherson,  taking  snuff ;  ,"  some- 
thing has  happened  this  morning ;  but  you  needn't  * 
tell  me  if  you  don't  want  to.     It  makes  no  differ-  • 
ende." 

_^  Colonel  Stuart  laughed,  nnd  h^ld  out  hia  h^fld. 


shaU 


"Say  good-by,  Mr.  McPherson.    I  don't  know4s  I 
~"  again  for  a  while.    I  am  going  away." 


'\ 


■}  '■ 


TIIK   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


237 


"  Good-by,"  said  Mr.  McPherson,  stoically. 

"  Don't  you  want  to  know  where  I  am  going? " 

"  Not  particularly." 

"Would  jjou  like  to  know  my  business ? " 

"  Why  should  I  ?    It  is  nothing  to  me." 

"  Yes,  it  is.  Listen.  I  am  going  to  find  out 
about  Edith  Torwood's  murder  !  " 

The  minister  started  back  aghast. 

"What!" 

"  Ah  1  I  thought  you  would  like  to  know. 
Here,  Brown,  bring  up  my  horse." 

The  orderly  led  forward  the  colonel's  charger,  and 
that  officer  vaulted  lightly  into  the  saddle. 

"  Farewell,  Mr.  McPherson,"  he  called,  dashing 
off ;  "go  and  talk  to  Captain  Torwood,  and  he  will 
tellyou  a  secret.  Meantime,  I'm  off  for  New 
York  ;  the  trail  begins  there." 


ne- 

n't  * 

- 

- 

er-  «- * 

•  n 

"  \ 

*i 

.  ■' 

,...i 

*;"■ 

1               , 

h 

si 

^"   " 

i 

<• 

1: 

238 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


ON   THE   TKACK. 

In  a  certain  palace-like  hotel  on  that  street  of 
palaces,  the  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City,  there  re- 
sided a  lady,  young,  rich,  and  so  beautiful  that  her 
fame  had  spread  far  and  wide,  fj'om  Dan  even  unto 
Beersheba.    Artists,  poets,  authoi-s,  and  vagabonds 
of  that  sort,  went  wild  about  her.     There  was  not 
a  paper  or  magazine  you  came  across  that  you  did 
not  find  "Lines  to  Florence."  "Sonnet  to  Floy," 
"  To  F.  St.  L."  "  To  a  Beautiful  Blonde,"  and  so  on 
to  the  end  of  the  chapter.     As  to  painters,  she  sat 
for  Venuses,  Madonnas,  Peris,  Hebes,  and  nearly 
every  other  good-looking  goddess  that  ever  was 
heard  of,  and  carvers-,  of  marble  had  busts  of  her 
stuck  all  round  their  s^^jdies,  and  full  length  figures, 
in  every  attitude  that  artist's  brain  ever  conceived. 
For  their  pains,  Mrs.  St'.  Leofif,'  the  name  of  this  be- 
wildering beauty,  smiled   on  them  sweetly  out  of 
her  blue  eyes,  and  smiled  on  all   alike,  let  them 
praise  her,  go  mad  abput  her  if  they  chose,  and 
cared  not  a  groat  for  one  of  them.     All  the  women 
envied  her ;  her  dresses,  her  jewels,  her  box  at  the 
opera,  her  carriage,  her  retinue  of  attendants,  her 
spleiidfd^  suite  oT^boms,  Ber  reunions,-  matinees,  and 
receptions,  were  all  alike  the  theme  of  their  envy 


« 


thp:  sisters  of  torwood. 


239 


and  slander.  But  Mrs.  St.  Leon  was  the  fashion, 
and  though  the  dear  creatures  flayed  her  alive,  and 
tore  her  character  to  tatters  behind  backs,  thev 
were  only  too  glad  of  a  card  to  these  same  recep- 
tions of  hers,  and  nearly  smothered  her  witli  kisses 
every  time  they  met. 

Of  Mr.  St.  Leon,  not  much  was  known — ho  cer- 
tainly had  never  been  seen  in  New  York  with  his 
charming  wife,  who  had  come  among  them  as  sud- 
denly as  if  she  had  (Iroppod  from  the  skies,  and,  by 
the  title  deed  of  beauty  and  wealth,  took  her  place 
imong  them  at  once.     There  was  a  vague  rumor  of 

.Confederate  of  her  name,  who  ^vas  high  in  rank 
the  Southern  Army,  but  whether  he  was  the 
proprietor  of  this  Fifth  Avenue  belle,  or  not,  Fifth 
avenue  could  not  positively  say.  Mr*;!.  St.  Leon 
herself  declined  speaking  on  the  subject,  and  only 
smiled  in  sublime  suavity,  and  oi)one(l  her  soft  vel- 
vety'eyes  a  little  wider  when  these  rumors  came 
floating*,  to  her  ears. 

"Mrs.  Grunde  says  I  am  a  deserted  wife,  and 
Miss  McFlimsey  says  T  am  no  better  than  I  ought 
to  be,  does  she?"  :^rs.  St.  Leon  lisped  softly  to 
her  maid,  who  had  just  made  the  report.  "  Dear 
me!  tell  my  secretary '(to  send  them  cards  for  my 
fancy-dress  party,  Hert^ine ;  if  they  really  tliink  as 
they  say,  they  won't  co^e,  of  course," 

But  Mrs.  Grunde  and  JVCiss  McFlimsey  and  everj'- 
body  else  were  only  toot  glad  to  come,  and  on  the 
night  appointed  for  the  ^^ancy-dress  party  Mrs.  St. 
Leon's  rooms  were  filled  )vith  the  elite  of  the  city. 


The  glaring  gas  shone  6^  all  brilliance,  gorgeous- 
ness,  ana  splendor  wealth  (Jould  purchase,  on  wofnen 


\ 


1 


*fsc 


f 


240  THE   SISTERS  OF   TOR  WOOD. 

arrayed  like  queens,  and  on  men  arrayed  in  airthe 
purple  and  fine  linen  nien  dare  wear. 

Like  an  empress  tlife  hn-ely  hostess  received  them 
niagnifieently  dressed,  with  diamonds  runninx.  lij,e 
rivers  of  light  around  her  white  th.Wt,  diamonds 
l^lazing  on  her  rounded  anns,  on  hor  taper  fingers 
'langling  from  her  ears,  and  clasping  back  from  the 
pnmrose  face  the  redundance  of  golden  curls  shini- 
mevmg  to  her  waist.  She  was  dressed  to  j^ersonate 
a  water  nymph,  and  her  robe  was  as  thin,  and 
'diny,  and  floating,  and  mist-like,  as  if  it  were 
really  sea  spray. 

Every  one  wore  some  kind  of  fancy  dress,  and 
queens  and  flowers-girls,  and  angels  and  nuns,  ami 
Jvnights  and  brigands,  and  sailors  and  Turks,  twined 
and  swayed  this  wjjy  and  that,  while  the  air  was 
lie^^y  with  music  and  perfunje. 

In  a  little  shady  alcove,  hung  with  rose  curtains, 
there  was  a  sofa  whereon  sat  a  lady  and  gentle- 
man,  discussing  the  moving  panorama  before  them 
The  gentleman  in  the  costume  of  a  Highland  chief 
was  the  most  deeply  smitten  of  the  batch  of  poets 
who  wrote  the  S(5nnets  and  things  about  the  fair 
hostess,Mnd  the  lady  was  Mrs.  Grundo,  who  hated 
iAfrs.  St.  Leon  through  sheer  envy,  more  than  she 
<li<l  Jiny  one  else  in'the  world. 

"  The  little  St.  Leon  is  out  in  full  feather  this 
.evening."  she  was  saying,  looking  through  her  glask.' 
"  Why  will  she  persist  in  wearing  white  when  she 
IS  so  unhappily  inclined  to  emhdnpmnt  f  "  ■    *  '  ^ 

^'  She  is  lovelier  than  ever,"  said  the  poet,  folio w-^^ 


^^g:1tne  snowy  figure  with: enraptured  e^rs;  "one 
would  tUink  she  had  sat  for  Owen  Meredith's  poem ; 


'A 


?  ^ 


'* 


'       THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWDOD.  24I 

i- 

"  The  folds  of  her  wine-dark  violet  dress  #  * 

(ilows  over  the  sofa,  fall  on  fall, 
.    As  she  sits  in  the  air  of  loveliness,  , 

With  a  smile  for  each  and  for  all 

"  Half  of  lier  exquisite  face  in  the  shade 

Which  o'er  it  the  screen  in  her  soft  hand  flings ;  ',  - 

Through  the  gloom  glows  her  hair  in  its  odorous  wave — 
In  the  firelight  are  sparkling  her  rings. 

"  She  sits  in  the  curtained,  luxurious  light  '       •    * , 

Of  that  room,  with  its  porcelain  and  pictures  and  flowers, 
When  the  dark  days  half  done,  and  tlie  snow-flakes  white 
,  Passed  the  window  in  feathery  showers. 

"  As  she  glides  up  the  sunlight,  you'd  say  she  was  made 
To  loll  back  in  a  carriage  all  day  with  a  smile„ 
And  at  dark,  on  a  sofa,  to  lean  in  the  sliade  '  , 

Of  soft  lamps,  and  be  wooed  for  awhile.  '  * 

* 
*'  'Tis  so  fair  !  would  my,bite,  if  I  bit  it,  draw  blood?  > 

Will  it  cry  if  7  hurt  St,  or  scold  if  I  kiss?  '        , 

Is  it  made  with  its  beauty  of  wax  or  of  wood  ?  .  , 
.  Is  it  worth  while  to  guess  at  all  thi&?."      ',  ,/  ' 

,  *  '  • ' 

"  No,  indeed,"  said  Mrs.  Gruride,  as  the  poet  paused ; 

"it  is  made  of  wax  and  insipidity — nothing  else. 

Do  you  kpow,"  leaning  forward,  confidentialiy,  "  I 

have  found  out  something  about  her."         *      !■     . 

"  No !  "     cried    the    poet,    yividly    interested. 
"What?"  " 

"  Who  she  is  I  Her  maiden  name  is  Tor\yood — 
Miss  Florence  Torwood,  third  daughter  of  a  certain 
Maryland  judge,  now  dead ;  and  she  eloped  nearly 
a  year  ago  with  this  St.  Leon  slje  is  maVried  Ib.i  He 
ri&a  Cuban,  I Jjeliove,  an44here=ea«  ^e  a&4oubt  ha^ 
is  that  Captain  St.- Leon  ^ho  behii^ed  so  traitor- 

ouslv."  ' 

16 


4fe    t!i\ 


"\. 


H2  THE    SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


"  f fo w  did  you  find  all  this  out  ?  » 
"From  my  niece,  Avho  was  a  scl.oolmute  o^  hers 
.      at  Mademoiselle  De  Juponville's  seminary,  hL  in 
^evv  lork.    Madame  Toru-ood,  l.erstepmJtherl  took 
•her  from  school  and  brought h or  to  Tor uood  Tower 
the  name  of  their  place  down  in  Maryland,  arid  two' 
o    three  weeks  after  she  eloped  with  this  StJLeon, 
,     nl  o,  by  tlie  tvay,  Beatrice  says,  was  engage,    to  an 
elder  sister  of  hers  a^the  time."  / 

"  St.  Leon's  a  lucky  fellow  to  have  the  iLttiest 
wife  in  America,  I  can  understand  his  dbsertin^o- 
his  country,  but  I  confess  I  cannot  understand  hfs 
desertion  of  la  belle  Florence."  / 

JJ^^-  rf  ''"^•^'/'  temporary  desertion,  and  besides, 
.  a  er  eight  months  of  matrimony  he  may  not  be  so 
badly  m  love  with  her  as  you  are.  I  confess  he  has 
more  faith  m  her  than  I  would  hav6 ;  foi-  a  woman 
who  elopes  once  will ." 

tlJ'fliT  ''l^'^-'^^'y  true,"  said  a  deep  voice  at  ' 
the  lady  s  elbow  ;  ami  looking  round  she  saw  a  tall 
man  m  the  dress  of  a  hermit,  with  his  long  white 
hair  and  beard,  to  which  his  straight,  stalwlrt  pro- 
portmns  and  piercing    bright   eyes    gave  the  lie* 

Mrs.Grunde  looked  at  him  keenly,  but  failed  to 
recognize  an  acquaintance  in  the  disguise 

"I  am  not  aware,  sir,"  she  said,  superciliously, 
tUdt  1.  was  addressi ng  my  remarks  to  you '  " 
"Very  true,  and  I  beg  a  thousand  pardons  for 
the  interruption  ;  but  the  truth  and  good  sense  of 
J^our  remarks  hiy^  palpably  on  thii^urface  that  i— 

T?;  f!i^''''"'^^^°°-    ^^3^IaskifMrs.St.Leoa 
nas  left  the  room  ? "  * 


-f 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORVVOOD. 


243 


She  Juis,  sir,"  said  the  poet,  failing  as  well  as  his 
fair  friend  to  recognize  the  speaker.     "  Siie  passed 
•  into  yonder  conservatory  not  two  minutes  a<.-o  " 
"Alone?"  '  -         *  ■ 

"  Quite  alone."  , 

"  Tliank  vou." 

The  hermit  strode  past,  made  his  wav  thron-h  the 
crowd,  while  many  an  eye  followed"  hin  imposing 
Mto^  ''''"'''''^^'  ^""^  disappeared  within  the  conser 

Mrs.  Grund'e  looked  at  the  poet  curiously 
"  Who  on  earth  is  that  ?  " 

feet  "  ^^''^'''^  *^'  *"°''^''^  ''^''''     ^^''  '^^'^'^"'^  ''  P^r- 
"  AVhat  can  he  want  with  Mrs.  St.  Leon  ?    What  » 
cried  Mrs.  Grunde,  excitedly,  -what  if'it'should  be 
her  husband  ?  "        * 

^'  My  dear  madam,  what  an  idea !  "  i 

"He  looks  like  a  soUlier,  in  spite  of  his  disguise 
I  am  certain  he  is  no  one  I  know,  and  I  am  equaUy 
certain  I  am  acquainted  with  every  one  Mrs.  St  Leon 
has  invited.  I  tell  you  I  believe  it  is  her  husband  " 
He  must  be  a  bold  fellow  if  it  is ;  but  I  fancy 
you  are  mistaken.  Oh,  excuse  me;  there  is  vour 
n^ece.  Miss  Beatrice,  going  to  sing,  ami  I  must  join^ 

,  T-^f  Pl'f  ,  '^^"<^  «^^er  to  the  piano,-  where  a  tall 
styhsh  girl  had  just  taken  her  seat,  and  Mrs.  Grunde' 
possessed  of  the  new  id^oa  which  had  seized  her,  made 
her  way  to^y|lrd  thq  c^viservatory.     The  air  there 


^^^^    1      ^     '  ''""'•"'""'J'     J^JJ«  air  mere 

was^ifflost  overpowering  from  the  odoToT  ricF  exT 
otics,  and  the  place  was  dimly  lighted  by  tiny  colored! 
lamps,  sparkling  like  stars  or  fire-flies  among  the 


i 


") 


/ 


244  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

plants.  Sofaintwas  the  light  thatat  first  she  c6uld 
no  be  certain  wliether  the  rooTns  were  empty  or  not- 
but  at  last,  m  a  distant  recess,  amid  a  wilderness  of 
flowers,  her  eye  caught  the  shimmer  of  a  filmy  white 

a  U^7  '""n  ^  ^^V'^^'P'^^"'^"^'-     ^^  ^^"'•^^  ««  great 
a  lady  could  not  bf  gj^lty  of  the  small  vice  of  eaves- 

,  dropping;  but  her  duty  to  her  country  required  her 
to  isten  If  ,t  should  really  be  St.  Leon.^  Keeping 
m  the  shadow  of  some  tall  orange  trees,  she  Lw 
nearer,  and,  hidden  herself,  had  I  full  view  of  thi 
tableau  before  her. 

^ What  was  it  she  saw  ?  The  stately  hermit  in  the 
act  of  removing  his  false  hair  and  beard,  of  throwing 
lamtlt"^  ««rge  cloak,  and  standing  revealed  in  thS 
amphght,  a  youn^  and  distinguished-looking  man, 
A  ^v.Tt"""  ""^  '"  "^^^"^^  «^  t'^«  F«^eral  Army 

court  .r,  ^"-  '•'•  ^'^"'  *'^  "^^'  '^'  b--tif"l,  th"^  ' 
courted,  the  irresistible,  was  cowering  on  a  sofa  her 

face  buried  m  the  cushions,  all  her  lovely  golden 
nnglets  falling  in  the  wildest  disorder  abou^t  her  !n 
a  position  of  crouching,  abject  terror,  crving  ii  a 
bitter  voice  of  supplication :  ?      .     s    "  a 

"Oh  I  never  meant  it!    I  never  meant  it !    I  never 
meantitl     Oh,  Dr.  Stuart,  how  cruel  you  are ! "         : 
Confess !  "  said  the  man's  deep  voice,  in  a  tone 

ptilessasdoom,«orneitheryouryouth,yourbeaUty     ' 
nor  your  wealth  shallsave  you.     'Justice  thougS 
heavens  fall '  shall  be  my  stern  motto  to  the  end     I   • 
know  a  great  deal,  and  what  I  ^.  not  know  I  shall 
never  rest  until  I  find  out-your  share  jn  it  as  we 
mtjie  rest !    Speak  I"——  ^  as  weu    ^ 


weving  lower  and  lower  among  the  pillows,  the 


N 


./ 


HW  wiirtaiii'fti*!iliiip*iii>i>j|#i^^ 


m 


/     THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD.  245 

fn^ttened  little  beauty  did  speak,  but  it  was  only  to 
efy,  amid  broken  sobs  : 

/      "  Oh,  what  have  I  done !  what  have  I  done !  what 
have  I  done!"  . 

y,  "What  you  never  can  repair,  though  you  lived  a  <.^^ 

thousand  years,  and  spent  every  one.  of  them  in  the 
eflfort ;  but  till  the  atonement  in  your  power  shall  bp  " 
wrung  from  you,  whether  you  will  or  not.     Youir"  - 
beauty  has  no  power  over  me,  for  I  know  you' 
madam,  and  I  tell  you  h^e,  Mrs.  St.  Leon,  the'law 
shall  force  you  to  §peak  W 
But  still  she  only  spoke  to  sob  and  wail : 
"  Ob,  what  shall  I  do  !  what  shall  I  do !..  Oh  Dr 
Stuart,  have  you  no  pity  !  "  '      ' 

"  None  for  you.  What  pity  had  vou  for  your 
murdered  sister  in  the  days  gone  by.  The  same  meas- 
ure you  measured  out  shall  be  returned  to  you' 
Rise  madam;  it  is  growing  late,  and  I  am  in  no 
mood  for  lingering  here !  Will  you  confess,  or  shall 
I  startle  this  gay  assembly  of  your  aristocratic  friends 
by  bringing  a. couple  of  policemen  into  their  midst? 
For  the  last  time,  Florence  St.  Leon,  wiU  vou 
speak?"  ^ 

And  Florence  St.  Leon,  the  fascinating,  about 
whom  half  the  young  aristocrats  of  New  York  wore 
--^  going  wild,  whom  poets  sang,  and  artists  painted, 
dropped  down  on  her  knees  at  the  stern  soldier's 
,  feet,  her  golden  hair  falling  oflF  a  face  ghastly  with 
mental  terror,  and  held  up  her  jeweled  hands  iix 
frantic  appeal. 


^ill  spealctjiwm  speak!    Oh,  Drrstuart  be 
merciful,  and  I  will  confess  all  I " 


^i:» 


246 


THE  SISlWs   OF  TORVVOOD. 


/ 


^ 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


HUNTKD    boWN 


Mrs  St.  Leon's  grand  reunion  was'  over.  In 
the  cold  gray  light  of  a  chili  spring  morning,  car-  r> 
mge  after  carriage  had  rolled  away  from  her  stately 
portals  freighted  with  loads  of  sleepy  loveliness 
SOI  ed  kids,  and  crumbled  satins.  When  the  round 
red  mormng  sun  ^h.s  rising  over  the  citv,  and  all 
tiio   common    folks   of  this  world  who  a"re  vulvar     ^ 

.^1.  dame  St.  Leon's  guests  were  going  to  bed,  iaded 
and  worn  out,  after  the  night's  dancing  and  cham- 

.U^\T,  ?""■    •^"'''^  "PP"**  chamber  of  a  fashion- 
able hotel,  fronting  on  Broadway,  a  gentleman  was 
pacing  up  and  down,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  carpet 
his  face  indicative  of  deep  thought.    An  odd-looking 
robe  of  coarse  gray  serge  lay  on  the  back  of  a  chair 
and  something  like  a  smile  brok(3  over  the  dark 
gravity  of  his  face  whenever  ho  chanced  to  glance 
that  way      Pens,  ink,  and  paper  lay  scattered  about 
on  ^n  inlaid  table  near,  and  sitting  down  after  a 
whde  he  began  to  write  a  letter. 


uiur     T^         *  ^^^  ^^^^y  ^arch  29. 


pose  I   am    fn  fn'"'-.^*'  ^i'"^"  letter-writing,  I  lu^ 
pose  1   am   in  for  it,  and  must  fulfil  my  promise.      ^ 


^ 


THE   SISTERS   OF   f OKWOOD. 


247 


.     Til 
,  car-  f~v' 
ately 
ness, 
ouncl 
i  all 
ilgar     ^ 
li  ft,     -• 
ided 
lam- 


There  nevei»  was  such  luck  as  mine ;  everytHing  is 
turning  out  beautifully,  and  I  am  beginning  to  think 
Fouche  himself  was  a  poor  detective  compared  with 
me."  ^ 

"  Now  for  particulars  ;  I  roachod  here  yesterday 
afternoon,  made  certain  inquiries,  found  out  Mrs. 
St.  Leon  was  to  give  a  tea  splash  of  unrivaled 
magnificence — I  mean  a  fancy-dress  party — in  tlie 
evening,  and  determined  to  go.  Nothing  like  strik- 
ing while  the  iron  is  hot,  you  know  ;  but  the  diffi- 
culty was  to  get  admitted,  for  Madame  St.  Leon  js 
decidedly  select  and  exclusive  on  these  occasions. 
However,  in  the  vocabulary  of  great  men,  you.  are 
aware  there  is  no  such  word  as  fail. 

"I  carao,  I  maneuvered,  I  succeeded.  I  went! 
It  was  the  luckiest  thing  in  the  world  it  chanced  to 
be  a  fancy-dress  party,  for  my  own  mother  wOuld 
not  have  known  me   in  my   disguisd      My  good 

fenius  stood  by  me  all  through  the  evening.  Mrs. 
t.  Lepn  sought  a  moment's  solitude  and  repose  in 
the  quiet  of  a  deserted  conservatory— I  followed 
her.  The  plants  in  vases,  three  feet  high,  formed  a 
sort  of  primeval  forest  on  a  small  scale,  the  lights 
were  dim,  the  dance  music  subdued  by  distance,  and 
with  scenery,  and  footlights,  and  with  everything 
charmmgly  suitable,  I  stood  before  her  with  tragic 
suddenne^,  threw  off  my  disguise,  struck  an  atti- 
tude, and  stared !  She  stared,  too,  \x)ov  little  golden- 
haired  sinner  ;  much  as  Macbeth  does  at  the  ghost 
of  Banquo,  in  speechless  horror.  Her  first  impulse, 
woman-like,  was  to  scream.  ^ 

"  I  checked  that— bur  play  wanted  no  spectators. 
We  both  found  our  tongues  after  we  got  tired  mak- 
ing eyes  at  eachjother,  and  a  tolerable  good  use  I 
ma(|e  of  mine. 

"  If  ever  pretty  Mistress  Florence  was  scared  out 


o 


\ 


rayear*s  growtfi,  cm  bojpTwas  last  night.  N"ero7 
Herod,  Henry  the  Eighth,  were  angels  of  kindness 
and    clemency  compared    with    me— tears,  sobs, 


-•frtk*^ 


ili^flSti 


H 


/ 


h 


248  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

fulTS  ^f,*^''^^f'  wringing  of  hands,  all  thepower- 
tul  train  of  female  artillery,  was  like  blank  shot     ' 
my  heart  was  iron-clad-I  was  merciless  !    1 1  w^^ 
he  only  way  to  fetch  everything  out,  and  every 
hmg  did  come  out  at  last  ;  but  I  t^lyou/rorwooj 
t  gave  me  a  very  odd  feeling  to  sel  ti.t'giH  Ce  ! 
ing  at  n.y  fee  ,  crymcr  for  mercy  like  a  child  an  1 
sill  be  relentless!    f  don't  know  which  of  us  was 
the  more  rejoiced  when  the  interview  ended  and 
the  play  ^yas  played  out.     I  dismissed  her  ^^"1 

t:&^^i:  ,l^£.^ ''■'"'  --  ^-  -= 

«fnl?^{  Tif  ""^'"^  '^''"  ^^  f«r  TorSvoodtown.    I 
start  in  half  an  hour,  and  don't  I  anticipate  a  «rpno 
unmasking  the  little  traitress  there    ^EverytS 
was  as  I  anticipated-Florence  was  kt  th7ca?s" 
paw-justico  has  not  overtaken   the 'monkey  yet 
bu  soon  will  now,  and  *  justice,  though  the  he^a/ens 
faU  '  has  been  my  merciless  motto  -In^his  search. 
.      As  for  you,  I  have  olily  to  repeat  tov  last  warn 
ing-be  careful  1  betray  nothijS  tifS^  th«    h^^^ 
comes.     I  know  you  will  fiSW ^  i  hnr^^  , 

my  dear  fellow,  ^ut  thereTsllisKr  it  How't 
should  like  to  have  seen  McPhffii^  you  told 
him^all.!  Didn't  he  empty  his  snuff-SW^  ^°^'^ 
anh^^l^'^i^^"^^^^'^  start  inl^arter  of 

I        .         /     '    "  Ever  yourg, 

'  /  . .  ■  "  PaiJl  Stuabt." 

Military  men  understand  dispatch.  Half  an  hour 
after  writing  the  list  word  the  letter  addressed  4o 
Captam  Angus  Torwood,  Washihgton,  was  on  its 
way  to  Its  destinfition,  arfd  the  writer,  seated  in  tlie 
^rs,  was w^he/w^TolEis, WmTaTst^lould^^ 
bear  him.    Looking  thoughtfully  out  of  the  windovy 


y> 


M 


„.-  '•^. 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOm 


2^ 


at  tlie  ever-changing  panorama  of  nature,  Colonel 
Stuart  mused  over  the  great  change  in  liis  life  that 
ha<l  taken  place  since  that  other  (hiy,  nearly  a  year 
agi>,  when  at  his  mother's  summons,  he  liad  left 
New  York  ^otthe  very  place  he  was  going  to  now, 
amused  ^^  J#ffljw^'prwood's  eccentric  will,  and  cur- 
^^"^  ^^  ^^SPPlfe  sisters.  IIpw  all  things  had 
changed  ^|iB^ft  He  had  lived  a  romanfee  him-^ 
self  in  t^.^^'^^l^pise,  f^s  startling  as  any  he  had 
ever  ready'appK  heAvpj;eturning  to  finish  me 
last  chapter  of  "  Retribi^ton."  He  was  no  expected 
visitor ;  no  one  at  Torwood  Towers  ever  looked  to' 
see  him  again — for  his  pur})ose  so  much  the  better. 
There  had  been  a  stormy  scene  one  morning i)et ween 
its  mistress  and  himself,  in  which  he  was  very  quiet, 
but  hard  as  iron,  obdurate  as  death  ;  and  in  which 
^jie'hml  wept  and  pleaded,  and  humbled  hei^self  as 
-iro,  orie  Avoufd  have  believed  IVfadame  Torwood  could 
have  done.  Then,  for  the  first  time,  she  had  learned 
which  of  her  stepdaughters  her  darling  Paul  had 
chosen,  and  mother  and  son  had  parted,  never  ex- 
pecting to  meet  again  at  Torj^tod  Towers. 

"  How  they  will  open  thU^^yes !  "  the  young 
colonel  mused,  smiling  to  himself.  "  My  poor 
mother,  she  will  be  glad  to  see  me  too,  for  I  really 
believe  she  thinks  me  as  near  perfection  as  it  is  pos- 
sible for  any  one  to  be,  and  lire.  I  was  a  little  too 
hard,  I  fear,  in  that  last  interview—but  that  was  a 
long  time  ago,  and  I  know  she  is  as  ready  to  forget 
and  forgive  as  myself.  As  for  that  other — but  suffi- 
cient ante^tb«-dagMs=tb©^^K^eretrf+^' 


In  the  dusky  haze  of  a  June  twilight.  Dr.  Stuart 
had  first  come  to  Torwoodtown— in  the  dusky  haze 


n 


«4^. 


{'> 


250  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

Of  a  cold,  spring  day,  he  landed  in  Torwoodtown 
again      Very  quiet  th»  little  town  looked,  with  its 
lew  dim  street-lamps  winking  feebly  in  the  gloom 
the  raw  sea-wind  blowing  in  your  face,  and  the  black 
..    waves  cannonading  dully  on  the  shore.     A  leaden 
sky  hung  over  all,  and  the   sloppy  unpaved  street 
was  ankle  dfeep  in  spring  mire.     All  dreary  enouoh 
but  the  heart  makes  its  own  sunshine,  and  Colonel 
btuart  whistled  a  tune  as  he  splashed  throu-h  it 
and  strode  up  to  the  Torwoodtown  Hotel.  Mr  Jinks' 
the  hostler    lounging  on  the  piazza  with  a  select 
few  of  his  friends,  smoking  clay  pipes,  opened  his 
eyes  at  the  gentleman's  approach. 

"  I'm  blest  if  here  ain't  the  young  doctor  as  was 
here  last  summer,  back  again !  I  heard  he  'listed 
and  got  made  a  major  gineral,  or  suthin'  about  the 
size  o  that.  What's  he  back  after,  I  should  like  to 
know  ? " 

Colonel  Stuart  being  on  foot,  and  Mr.  Jinks' 
service  not  being  required,  he  did  not  seem  likely  to 
know ;  but  he  and  the  loungers  saw  him  stroll  into 

And,"  said  Colonel  Stuart,  lying  buck  in  an  easy 
position  to  r^d,  "  I  shall  want  a  fast  horse  immedi- 
ately aftgj  You  need  not  prepare  a  room  for  me. 
I  shall  nofsleep  here  to-nio-ht."  » 

It  was  quite  dark  before  the  colonel  got  throucrh 

^  with  his  supper,  and  throwing  a  largd  riding-cloak 

•  over  his  shoulders,  he  mounted  the  horse  Mr  Jinks 

was  holding  in  readiness.     Pitcli^dark,  and  a  wintry 

^mghi^without  moon  oi^stars,jindji^miserable  dri7-__ 

zie,  th^t=was Tialf-snow  and  hjilf-rm»»  «;^«^,-„^  »u„_„  ~ 


r 


f< 


zfe,^was1iaIf:snow  and  half-rain,  piercing  sharp 
throg^h  everything.  4.  ^   #    ^ 


'/. 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


251, 


J 


"  A  heavenly  gallop  I  am  likely  to  have  of  it,"  he 
muttered,  gathering  up  the  reins.     "  Lucky  for  iiTtj  I 
know  the  confounileil  road  so  well.  gThere,  my  good 
fellow,  give  him  his  head— thafwilldo,  thank  you." 
Horse  and  rider  sped  away  through  the  darkness 
like  specters,  on  over  the  black,  forsaken  road,  ^vith 
the  black  and   lonesome  sea  booming  like   distant 
thunder,  the  black  and  ghastly  woods  around  him, 
and   the   black  and    wrathful   night  sky  lowering 
over  all.     A  lonely  night  ride,  in  Avhicii  any  chance 
passer-by   might   have   taken   him   for  the   Black 
Horseman  of  the  Ilartz  Mountains— a  dismal  ride, 
cold  and  comfortless,  his  horse  stumbling  over  rocks 
,and  slipping  in  the  greasy  mire  ;  but   the  youno- 
officer  thought  neither  of  rain,  nor  cold,  nor  lonelf- 
ness.    The  purpose  that  brought  him  filled  his  mind, 
to  the  exclusion  of  all  things  else. 

Looming  up,  a  black  and  goblin  shape  in  the  gloom, 
Tor  wood  Towers  rose  before  him  at  last.  Walking 
his  horse  into  the  courtyard,  he  dismounted,  and 
-led  him  toward  the  stable  himself.  No  one  was 
Visible— no  sound  of  life  came  from  the  lonely  old 
house.  The  three  lights  that  always  burned,  illumi- 
nated it— one  in  the  entrance  hall,  one  from  the 
great  kitchen,  and  the  third  from  the  drawing-room 
window.  He  smiled  a  grave  smile  as  he  watched 
this  last. 

"  What  are  they^doing,  I  wonder  ? "  he  thought, 
"  my  lady,  Mis&^ucy,  and  wild  Madge.  How  irttle 
they  think  theii*- Ibving  son  and  step-brother  is  hero 
.4opay  ys  r^peefcs,  Sfeep4n  peaee-toTi^^ 
Torwood  ;  to-morrow  night  you  may  not  find  it  so 
easy,  for  the  hour  of  retribution  has  come  !  " 


252 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


'  lie  did  not  enter  the  house.  Having,  seen  his 
horse  all  ri^ht,  he  started  off  with  his  long  strides 
<  through  the  dark  and  dismal  shrubbery,  striking  into 
the  lonely  meadow  that  brought  him  to  the  cedar 
Avoods.  Along  that  forsaken  path,  in  the  black 
heart  of  the  woods,  another  figure  had  flitted  one 
July  night  to  the  solitary .  hut  of  the  fortune-teller. 
To  that  very  hut  Colonel  Stuart  was  walking  now, 
and  its  red  beacon  light  flamed  out  across  his  path- 
way, at  last.  Like  tlie  other  visitor,  he  paused  at 
the  broken  window  to  reconnoiter ;  like  her  he  saw 
the  wretched  interior,  illuminated  by  a  roaring  wood 
fire,  the  overgrown  cat  blinking  in  one  chimney 
corner,  and  the  dark  sibyl  onV  low  stool  in  the 
other,  her  hands  clasping  her  ktiees,  her  shining 
bhick  eyes  brooding  on  the  fire.  An  authoritative 
knock  at  the  door  brought  her  front  her  musings. 

"  Who  is  there  ?  "  she  demandetf,  approaching. 

"A  friend."  ,, 

"  What  do  you  want  ?  '■ 

"A  little  fortune-telling.  Open  the  door,  will 
you  ? " 

Iluldah,  used  to  nocturnal  callers,  threw'  back  the 
door,  and  a  tall  man,  in  a  long  cloak,  came  in,  and 
shook  the  mud  and  rain  off  his  boots. 

"  A  delightful  night  for  pedestrians,  Huldah,  is  it 
not?  I  shall  nmddy  your  floor ;  but  you'll  excuse 
ine,  won't  you? " 

lie  crosseil  over,  toolc  a  seat,  and  stretched  out  hi;s 
splashed  boots  to  the  drying  influence  of  the  blaze. 
Huldah  stooj^  looking  athira  without  a  word. 


**Tt'sa  lucRy  thing  Tor  you,  Hiildah,  wodO  ls^5~ 
plentiful  here,  or  you  would  wake  up  some  morning 


'M  - 


•rfi&'. 


0- 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


253 


and  find  yourself  as  stiff  as  Lot's  wif(^  but  perhaps 
you  never  heard  of  the  lady  ?  Won't  ^u  be  seated  ? 
and  don't  sy,re  so ;  it  is  not  polite." 

"  What  brings  Dr.  Stuart  here '<"  Huldah  asked  * 
in   her  deep  Hones,   approaching    the   fire  as  she 
spoke. 

"  I  told  you  before,  did  I  got  ?  A  little  fortune- 
telling.  I  have  great  faith  in  you,  Iluldali;  and 
have  taken  a  journe^from  New  York  on  purpose  to 
see  you.'^  k 

"  From  New  York !     I  thought " 

"  You  tho|ight,"  her  visitor  struck  in,  as  she  came 
to  a  full  stop,  ^'  I  was  down  South  in  Dixie,  fighting 
for  glory,  and  s5^on.  Oh,  no;  I've  been  in  New 
York,  and  while  there  called  on  a  pretty  little 
friend  of  ours.  You  know  her— Mrs.  St.  Leon.  Do 
sit  down ;  it  makes  me  uncomfortable  to  see  vou 
standing  up  there  likd  a  grenadier  on  guard." 

Huldah's  stool  was  behind  her;  she  drew  it  up, 
and  sat  down,  keeping  her  shining  black  eyes  fixed 
on  her  visitor,  as  if  fascinated,  h«r  dark,  gipsy  face 
looking  weird  g^nd  uncannyj^nough  in  the  lurid  fire- 
light. 

"That's  right.  -Now  we  can  talk  comfortably, 
and  1  have  U  great  deal  to  say  fbyou,  Huldah.    Can  ' 
you  guess  what  it  is  about  ? " 

"  I  don't  want  to  guess."      ^  '      .       , 

"  No,  I  should  thinknot.  Well,  I  am  going  to  be  very 
frank,  and  save  you  the  trouble.  I  told  you,  as  T 
said,  I  wanted  a  little  fortune-telling;  but  I  am 
going  to  reverseihejYay^yoa  usually  .iio  that-sorfc=^ 


^ 


'i-  - 


of  thing,  and  instead  of  you  telling  me  mine,  I  in- 
tend to  tell  ^'ou  yours  " 


\v 


254 


THE   SISTERS   OF 


[•^^■Yamv 


OOD. 


llifi^dah  ssit  iiiiniovable,  her  specl:ral  black  eyes 
intdMl^^  fi^ed  on  his  face.  Colonel  Stuart  leaned 
tdjvards  her,  and  lowered  his  voice :  .      .  > 

"I  can  predict  your  whole  future  in  two  words — 
a  halter!"  '•'•  ''       "^' 

"     liuldah  n^vcr  moved  a  muscle, 

"If, the  lialtfer  had  its  duo,  my  good  liuldah,  you 

'    know  I  shouUl  have  no  companion  in  this  hut.     Do 

you  understand jne  ?     Do  you  know  that  they  hang 

.  peopl©.  for  MiKDKii  in  these  United  States  ?     You 

fn  may  as  well  speak,  liuldah  ;  I  shall  lind  means  to 

'  make  you  presently."  •  ' 

"  AVhat  is  the  use  of  speakigg?"   exclaimed  the 
-    mulatto  woman  hnpationtly,  "  when  I  don't  know 
what  you  are  talking  about." 
/  "Bah!     I  undoi-stand  all   that!     Every  crimjnal 

^  ])l^ads  not  guilty   when  placed  in  the  dock ;   but 

murders  are  committed,  and  men,  and  women,  some- 
times, liuldah,  are  hung  fur  tluin.  You  don't  un- 
tlerstand  me,  eh?  Nejrher  could  I  understand  at 
first  why  you  murdered  E<lith  Torwood!" 

liuldah  sat  still  like  a  dark  eiiigy  in  stone,  un- 
moved. 

"  I  never  murdered  Edith  Torwooii,"^  she  compos- 
edly said. 

"Of  course  that  is  your  answer,  but  I  happen  to 
liave  proofs.      Do  you  comprehend   what  I  mean 
when  I  say  I  saw  Mrs.  St.  Leon  in  New  York  'i, " 
*'  Yes,  I  understand  plain  English." 
"  I  saw  Florence  St.  Leon,  then,  my  good  liuldah, 
^and  iiaten.     She  has  told  me  (dl !    All !  you  under^ 


/■>. 


stand — ALL ! 
The  stone  face  was  changeless  in  its  calm. 


l^ 


to 


V 

SISTERS 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORVVOOD.  255. 

"  I  know  everything  from  first  to  fast— the  whole 
dark  and  shameful  story.  Not  one  event  that  hap- 
pened from  the  night  Lucy  Torwood,  your  foster 
child,  sought  you  out,  in  spite  of  storm  and  dark- 
ness, until  that  July  evening  when  the  atrocious 
deed  was  done,.-is  hidden  from  nfe.  What  do  you 
think  of  that  T'  0.  ^ 

She  neither  moved  nor  spoke.  The  black  eyes 
stiU  glared  upon  him  ;  the  brown  face  was  of  cast- 
iron.  "~  . 

"  Still  dumb  !  Well,  I  can  go  further  back  yet- 
back  to  the  time  before  the  murdered  girl  ever  canro 
here,  Avhen  Lucy  TorWood,  your  nursling,  sent  you 
to  Cuba  to  see  what  she  was  like  beforehand.  You 
performed  your  mission  well — you  are  a  clever 
woman.  Iluldah,  you  dogged  her  night  and  day ; 
you  haunted  her  like  an  evil  shadow  everywhere; 
you  frightened  her  so  that  she  was  glad  to  leave  her 
island  home  and  come  here,  sinjply  to  escape  you. 
She  did  not  escape ;  the  evening  after  her  arrival 
you  started  up  before  her  at  the  gate  of  Torwood 
Towers.  I  did  not  know  then  why  :i|||^shrieked 
and  nearl^/ig,inted  at  tjie  sight ;  she  haJ^eason  to," 
had  ^he  nof  ? " 

Only  that  gorgpn-like  start  for  an  answer.    Colo- 
nel  Stuart,  returniflM^  it  with   compound   interest, -^^ 
kept  on.      J  ;•  i&     .     -V 

"  It  was  not  very  wise  of  you  aHf  Miss  'Lucy  to 
trust  Florence  with  your  secrets  and  motives ;  but 
perhaps  you  could  hot  help  it.  It  was  quite  a  well- 
laid  plan,^  mttst^low,  and  you  pktyed  ghost  wt<3ont-^ 
moTTly  well  in  the  shrubbery,  too.  There  was  a 
grea^tragic  actress  lost  in  you,  Iluldah." 


/ 


^ 


,.v. 


,X. 


! 


'%i 


THE   SISTERS  OP^  TO 


[e  patiied  to  stjoke";  the 


.bli 
%he  cat'3- mistress  ^.tiOj^k  an^Wsier 
stool,  andlti^ed  stQP^tly  oii^.^ 

"You  j^^youp  hBft^ihg  laid your-vpj^ns  cleverl^r 
enough ;th(]^t    night  On  fw^Mi -shgi  ^sotight  |ff  ** 
..fjhe:       -•■'■-  .  .1  .  .- ^^j         , 


but  thcJiuft  was  iliSc(||ch^et    ,^,. 

,  with  a  great  deal  |ff  ^^*^ppe  l^j^hirt^ 
h,  that^,the  best  Wd  s(l^em%'9|  :!p^  andtoeii*' 
;ley.'    It  was  all  laid  out  bejiutifully  ; 
Wcy  understood  the  haughty  nature  of 
jthe  susceptible  one  ot^  Florence,  and  the 
'KttMeilKih  carelessness  of  Madg^,  and  .were  sure  of 
success.    Miss  Lucy  knew  the  \t^  of  her  father  as 
pa|i  as  her  prayers,  and  had  raa<!l^|ip  her  mind  to  be 
jlafly  of  Torwood  Towers.    Edith*would  despise  my 
mother's  son,  of  course,  and  would  lie  no  rival ;  Flor- 
ence would  be  captivated  by  the  handsome  face  of 
Mr.  St.  Leon.     Madge  was  too  youi|g  and  too  wild  ; 
Lucy  \vas  to  Imve  it  all  her  own  way,  be  my  wife^ 
and  heii'ess  of  her  father's  wealth.    Wasn't  that  the 
way  of  it,,Iluldah?     Do  speak,  won't  you?     It  is 
rather  trying  to  leave  all  the  talking  to  me." 

"  You  do  it  so  well  it  would  be  a  pity  to  interrupt 
you,"  Huldah  said,  finding  voice  at  li^St.  "  Did  Mrs. 
St.  Leon  tell  you  all  this  ? " 

"  Never  mind  who  told  me ;  you  know  it  is  true ! 

between  you   and  Miss  Torwood  you  ma^d^  the 

match  you  intended;,  but  you  found  that,  after  all. 

you  were  likely  to  be  balked.  ^  Yoi^saw  that  Edith, 


V 


not  Lucy,  was  likely,  after  all,  tc 


Torwood,  and,   slo{g)ing  at  not 
lliS|ning,  Huldah?— you 
^Idah  never  tUached  ujj 

/       ••  ■ 


V     ■"" 


kjthe  mistress  of 

•>  *' 

■Tyou—are  yx)i  - 
stern  eyesj 

-A 


. .  «.¥•'' 


y 


THE  SISTERS  OK  TORWOOD, 


257 


"  No, .  I  did  not.     Edith'^orwood  is  not  murdered, 
and  you' know  it !  "  ■ 

'      "Where  is  she,  then?"  '  " 

"  You  need  not  ask ;   you  know  better  than  I 

"  You  own  the  truth  of  all  I  have  said  ? " 

"  I  own  nothing  but  this — that  if  you  have  come 
all  the  way  from  New  York,  thinking  to  frighten 
*me,  you  have  made  the  greatest  mistake  of  your 
life.  Edith  Torwood  is  not  murdered,  and  you 
know  it  well.  If  you  have  finished  what  you  have 
to  say  you  had  better  go  home." 

"Very  hospitable  of  you;  but  I  have  not  quite 
finished  yet.  The  evening  oa  which  Edith  Torwood 
,  was  last  seen  alive  you  came  bMiind  her  as  she  sat 
on  the  beach.  Oh,  yoti  need  not  speak-irl  know  it 
all;  you" lifted  heij^i[^  your  strong  arms,  stifled  her, 
cries  in  a  shawl,  and  bore  her  off.  Since  that  time 
nothing  has  b^en  heard  of  her,  and  I  have  come  to 
you  to-night  todemand  a  full  account  of  what  fol- 
lowed." 

"  Demand  away !    I  shall  tell  you  nothing,"  the 
mulatto  woman  said,  with  grim  suUenness."    ^ 

"  You  may  as  well — I  shall  surely  leara  it  before 
another  sun  sets.'* 

"How?" 

"From  Lucy  Torwood!    You 'may  be  made  of 

granite,  l^ut  she  is  not.    I  go  tliere  now,  and  I  shall 

t(e  a^JM^it^less  with  her  as  she  was  with  her  sister. 

The  pity  you  .both  showed  Edith  Torwood  shall  be 

-shown" to  you,  sa  look  k>  yom-selves.^*^^ 


He  rose  as  he  spoke,  drew  his  cloak  closely  around 
|iiin-drew«his  hat  down  oveuhis  brbws,  and  prepared 


•fifiifilliiiif 


"\ 


THE   SI3TERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


(^58 

to  fa(?e,  the  raw  and  rainy  night,  Huklah  sitting  "all 
the  \ykile  like  a  grim  figure  of  stone. 

\Once  again,"  he  said,. pausing  at  the  door,  "  will 
you  «peak  ? " 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say."    .^  > 

"Lucy'TorwoJd  will  have,  then!  Good-night  to 
you  and  pleasant! dreams !  " 
\  |[e  was  gone,  lost  to  view  in  the  blackness,  the 
\mo1fi^nt  the  door  closed,  Through  the  forest  path, 
through  the  meadows,  through  the  shrubbery,  back 
again  at  Tor  wood  Towers  in  an  incredibly  short 
spafce  of"ti;ue.  The 'window  of  his  i-oom  opened  on 
the  ])iazza,  like  the  rest;  he  could  gtiin  admittance 
that^  way  without  disturbing  any  one.  Passing  to- 
ward it,  he  went  by  another  chamber  window  from 
which  a  light  shone— a  win^iow  from  which  he  had 
more  than  once  watched  a  girlish  figure  prowling  in* 
the  grounds,  A  grim  smile  broke  over  his  face  as 
he  watched  ihut  glimmering  star  of  light.v 

"  Hunted  down,  Lucy,"  he  was  me^t^ally  saying, 
^   as  he  went  on  to  his  own  room.     "  ^eep  to-night, 
my  dear  girl,  youi'  time  comes  to-morrow." 


f 


V 


\ 


V 


-t'- 


■» 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD, 


; 


259 


CHAPTER  XXIIl. 


ff  in*     / 


UNMASKED, 

The  first  morning  sunbeams,  glancing  through  the 
eastern  windows  of  Torwootl  Towers,  shone  on  Lucy 
Torwood,  standing  before  tlie  antique  mirror  in  her 
chamber,  smootliing  her  pretty  flaxen  hair.  Perhaps 
it  was  the  deep  mourning  she  wore,  perhaps  it  was 
the  altered  cxpresbTon  of  face,  but  she  seemed  to 
have  grown  ten  years  older  in  scarcely  that  nuin^r-^ 
•of  months.  The  delicate  rose-bloom  that  had  mane 
her  so  fresh  and  pretty,  had  all  departed  witli  the 
winter's  sun  ;  the  oval  cheeks  had  two  ddep  hollows,v 
there  were  conspicuous  lines^eaming  the  once  satiur 
smooth  forehead  and  the  delicate  mouth,,  But  the 
eyes — those  pretty  soft  blue  eyes — had  changed  more 
than  all.  Not  in  color,  of  course ;  the  spring  sky, 
in  which  the  sun  shone  so  brilliantly  this  genial 
morning,  was  not  clearer  nor  bluer ;  but  all  their 
gentle  quietude,  all  their  peaceful  tranquillity^was 
gone.  AVild,  startled,  restless,  they  flitted  froi 
ject  to  object  with  a  strange,  fluttering  glaiice^o 
affright,  never  resting  longanywhere,  always  watch- 
ful, always  waiting,  always  on  the  alert.  Her  black 
dress  fitting  her  slight  figure  to  perfection,  her  spot- 
is  collar  and  cuffs,  her  hair  shining  like  pale  gold^ 
looked  very  good  and  pretty  still,  but  not  as 
lUcy    Torwood    used    to    look.     Something   had 


t 


.Vx:' 


'^ 


m 


JL 


HE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

^  changed  her,  and  not  for  the  better.  People  said 
her  sister's  dreadful  and  mysterious  disappearance 
.  had  broken  her^I]^j}^i;^^nd  what  everybody  savs, 
you  know,  np^jijiW^W^*  <^.  >; 
-  On  the  bed,  her  shorfe  black  hair  all  tossed  and 
disordered,  her  cheeks  flushed  with  youth  and  health- 
ful sleep,  her  gipsy  face  resting  on  her  arm,  lay 
Madge,  fast  asleep. 

As  Lucy  finished  her  toilet  and  turned  to  leave 
the  room,  she  stood  for  an  instant  by  the  bedside, ' 
looking  down  at  the  sleeping  face.     Startlirigly  like 
^  her  lost  sister's  in  its  ropoke,  that  wild,  dark  fatee 
was ;  too  restless  and  cha%eful,  in  her  taking 
hours,  for  the  rlsemblajAce  to  strike  jagi ;  but  in 
sleep,  save  for  the  bright  bloom  of  col(^^ou  might 
-  have  fancied  Edith,  lay  before  you. 
\      "'  II<^w  like !  how  likd  !  "  Lucy  said,  low,  to  her- 
self, her  lips  trembling  ;N  and  she  grows  more  like 
her  every  day.     Mad^^e's  face  haunts  me  dike  the 
ghost  of  liie^ead  now  ! "      • 

Madge,  as  if  conscious^  even  in  slumber,  of  her 
iffl^r's,f^ady  gaze,  m6ved*  uneasily,  and  murmured 
sOTtething  as  she  turned  on.  her  pillow  and  slowly 
,    opened  her  black  ej'^es.  I  '.        ^^ 

»  <|$^^  you  ther^  Lucy  ?  '^e  asfead,  raising  her- 
self'Sh  her  elbo yv,  vAth  ar^awn.  "  "W^aat'^he  Hiorn- 
ins:  hke  2 "  ji«b;.         *  a*;*         -^^ 

But  Lucy,  JTaif^gone"  down-stairs  and  into  the 
drawing-roqMM|th^wing^  open  windows  and  doors 
to^h§  fresh^MTbipze. 
Every thin^in  that  room  was  unc 


iiji&hanged^jibe  old. 


o1*gan  kept  its  place  still,  though  the  fingers  that 
had  onc(3  evoked  such  melody  from  its  yellow  keys 


(I  • 


M 


in 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


261 


were  perhaps  tnoldering  into  dust ;  the  canaries 
sang  in  their  cages,  and  the  flower-stands  filled  the 
windows ;  Madge's  straw  hat  lay  in  one  corner,  her 
mantle  in  another;  the  piano  stood  open,  as  she 
had  left  it  last  night ;  Madame  Torwood's  chair 
stood  in  state  in  its  place  in  the  "  ingle  nook,"  and 
Judge  Tbrwood,  grini  and  awful  in  his  judicial 
ermine,  stared j)n  all  from  above  the  mantle. 

Lucy,  standing  beside  the  piano,  looking  out  at 
the  shining  sea,  let  her  fingers  stray  over  the  keys, 
and  began,  very  softly,  and  half-unconsciously,  to 

"  And  the  stately  Bhips  go  on 
, ;  To  the  haven  under  the  hill ; 

*  And,  oh,  for  the  touch  of  a  vanished  hand, 

<And  the  sound  of  a  voice  that  is  still  I 

'*  Break,  break,  break. 

At  the  foot  of  thy  crags,  oh,  sea  ! 
^  But  the  tender  grace  of  a  day  that  is  dead 

Will  never  come  back  to  me  I  " 

■  She  stopped  as  suddenly  as  she  had  begun ;  some- 
thing seemed  to  rise  in  her  throat  and  choke*  her. 
She  stopped  singing,  to  go  out  and  attend  to  her 
houselceeping  duties ;  but  the  instant  |||jf  turned  to 
the  door  a  shrill  cry  broke  from  her,  an4  s^ppunded 
back  as  if  she  had  seen  a  ghost.  ^^^ 

Standing  in  the  doorway,  with  folded  arms,  not 
unlike  a  tall,  dark  ghost,  Colonel  Stuart  stood,  as 
unexpected  as  if  he  had  risen  out  of  the  ground. 

'"  Good  morning.  Miss  Torwood,"  he  said,  advanc- 
ing  as  compc>sedry  as  if  they  had  only^parted  nine^ 
hours  instead  of    nine  months  before.  -  "  I  have 
startled  you,  I  am  afraid." 


>mmii'' 


262 


THE   SISTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


He  might  well  say  so.  She  was  standing,  holding 
by  the  piano  with  her  left  hand,  while  her  right  was 
pressed  over  her  heart.  Her  parted  lip^  told  how  it 
was  throbbing ;  her  face,  pale  before,  had  become 
perfectly  (Colorless ;  and  her  eyes,  those  startled  eyes,^ 
had  dilated  to  twice  their  natural  size. 

"  I  haA^e  come  upon  you  too  suddenly,"  he  said, 
advancing,  and  really  a  little  alarmed.  "  You  look 
ill ;  had  you  not  better  sit  down  ? " 

She  took  him  at  his  word,  sinking  into  a  chair  be- 
side the  window,  her  hand  still ,  over  her  trobbing 
heart. 

"  It  is  nothing.  I  am  very  foolish ;  but  I  have 
grown  so  nervous  of  late,  the  least  thing  startles  me. 
And  you — you  appeared  so  suddenly  so- " 

She  stopped,  looking  at  him,  with  the  same  strange 
glance  of  affright. 

"  So  unexpectedly,"  said  Colonel  Stuart,  advanc- 
ing into  the  room  ;  "  yes,  I  know  I  am  an  unlooked 
for,  very  likely  t^n  unwelcome,  guest.  But  1  shall 
not  trouble  Torwood  Towers  long  with  my  presence. 
I  le^ive  at  noon  in  the  stfeamer." 

"So  soon!  It  was  scarcely  worth  your  while  to 
come  at  all." 

"  I  have  come  on  business,  not  for  pleasure.  Very 
disagreeable  business,  Miss  Torwood;  very  painful 
tome,  very  painful  to  others,  but  unavoidable. 
That  business  is  with  you.'^ 

"  With  me !  "  the  pale  lips  faltered. 

"  With  you,  Miss  Torwood,"  Colonel  Stuart  reiter- 
ated, fixing  his  strong  bkre^yes  with  a  powerfui^ 
glance  on  the  shrinking  face ;  "  and  I  think  you  di- 
vine beforehand  to  what  it  relates.'' 


€ 


I. ■■■'.■ 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  263 

She  tried  to  look  him  in  the  face,  and  deny,  but 
she  could  not.  The  blue  eyes,  that  could  be  so 
kindly  and  genial,  were  terribly  stern  and  relentless 
now.  She  dared  not  lie  iii  this  truthful,  searching 
light, "and  the  shrinking  face  turned  to  the  window, 
and  the  frightened  eyes  averted  themselves  steadily 
from  that  moment^  i  (\ 

He  drew  a  chair  up  near  to  where  she  sat,  and 
leaned  forward,  speaking  pow,  and  noypr  taking  his 
eyes  off  her,  though  he  <Johld  not  see  her  face.  . 
"  Where  is  my  mother  ? "  he  asked, 
"  In  her  room,"    Lucy  answered,  in  a  voice  so 
tremulous  that  the  words  were  scarcely  intelligible. 
"And  Madge?" 
A  shout  outside  answerekl— Madge  Avas  coming 
down-stairs,  calling  to  tucy  alsishe  came. 

"  Good  !  We  can  talk  WitliW  feiir  of  interrup- 
tion Miss  Torwood,  I  have  a  stovyto  tell  you— a 
somewhat  lengthy  one,  but  I  think  vmi  will  find  it 
interesting." 

«I I  am  busy — I  have  so  much  to  attend  to 

mornings,"  faltered  the  frightfully  tremulous  voice. 
"Pardon  me,  too,  if  I  tell  you  that  you  must 
wait,  for  the  story  I  have  to  tell  is  even  more 
important  than  your  housekeeping  duties.  It  takes 
me  some  time  back— let  me  see,  over  twenty-four 
years  ago,  perhaps  twenty-five,  when  a  certain  young 
judge  in  tWscountry  married  a  rich  heiress,  who 
broughtx  b%^ot  only  a  fortune  in  money,  but  a 
valuahMk^;  servants,  etc.  Among  these  servants 
"^as  a  mStes  prl  named  Hnldah--^pef baps  you 
may  hav»  heard  it  before ;  an  uncommonly  intel- 
ligent girl,  able  to  read  and  write,  and  trusted  more 


!  » 


.'k 


.* 

» 


264  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.'' 

as  a  friend  than  a  slave  by  her  mistress.  In  return, 
Hul*ih  idolized  this  mistress,  would  have  gone 
through  fire  and  water  to  serve  her,  and  the  idolatry 
extended  to  her  mistress'  child.  From  her  very 
birth,  Huldah  doted  on  this  child,  she  beqame  little 
Lucy's  nurse— they  named  the  child  Lucy,  ifiss  Tor- 
wood,  and  her  own  mother  could  not  have  loved  her 
bfetter  than  this  slave  foster-mother  did.  But  there 
soon  came  changes ;  the  real  mother  died,  and  a 
verysliort  time  afterward  the '<l)ereaved  husband 
brought  home  a  new  wife. 

"  The  first  wife's  family  estate  was  sold,  with  it 
the  servants,  to  raise  money,  for  the  jucrge,  ij  seems, 
was  an  extravagant  man,  and  th'e  young  bride  had 
expensive  tastes.  Iluldah  went  with  the  rest;  I 
have  no  deubt  she  made  a  terrible  scene  Ibefore  leav- 
ing, for  she  was  a  woman  of  violent  temper;  but 
the  judj^e  was  a  stern  man— his  word  was  law,  and 
she  ha^  to  go. 


't 


*'  Y'ou  may  know  how  deeply  she  felt  it  when  I  % 
tell  you  the  shook  turnetl  her  brain.    Iluldah  went,       i«^ 
mad,  and  with  her  madness  came  its  cunning.     She        "(k' 
managed  to  makeTher  e^3e  not  long  afterward,    '     •  ^'* 
and   for  many  years  at|P  wandering  about  the 
country,  finding  food  and  shelter  as' best  s^he  might.  '    '.' 

After  many  years  she  came  back  to  her  native, place.; 
spme  of  the  negroes  who  had  known  her  i^  oCher 
days  built  her  a  rude  hut  in  the  woods,  and  jttuldah 
took  to  fortune-telling  for  a  liviag.  •?    '       - 

!'  She    looked   Witch-like   enough-  to  \)C  able  to 
predict  the  future,  and  iound^  plenty -of  bJievew-t^-- 
oome  stealthily  after  nightfall  to  the  fbnesoiile  hut 
«  the  blaok  heart  of  the  cedar  woods.-   Delicate 


y. 


»» •«•  ■- 


'% 


t 


(■■» 


•  S 


5turn, 
gone 
•latry 

very 
little 

Tor- 
i  her 
there 
nd  a 
band 

th  it 
ems, 

had 
it;  I 
leav- 

but 
and 


vent, 
She 


ard, 
the 
ght. 
ice.; 
^her,' 
da^ 

!    to. 


f-V 


hut 
;ate 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


265 


young  ladies,  Miss  Torwood,  have  gone  there  before 
now,  stealing  through  the  darkness,  when  they 
dared  not  face  the  light  to  plot  evil  with  the  dark 
seeress.  Pisfhaps  I  tire  you  with  i\  long  preamble 
about  a  wretched  ^scaped  slave  and  vagrant  lunatic;  , 
but  it  is  necessary;  that  you  may  the  better  under- 
stand my  story.", ' 

He  tried  to  see  her  face,  but  he  could  not.  TTo 
only  saw  her  desperately  clutching  the  window  ;.iU 
with  one  hand  in  a  desperate  clutch,  but  for  ajl  that 
she  shook  like  one  in  an  ague.  Morally  and  physi- 
cally, Lucy  Torwood  was  a  coward.  ( 'olonel  Stuart 
had  some  one  very  different  from  Iluldah  Black  to 
deal  with  now.  He  went  on  after  a  moment's 
pause,  during  which  the  beating  of  the  girl's  fright- 
ened heart  was  plainly  audible.  '' 

"  The  judge's  second  wife  shared  the  fate  of  his 
,  first,  leaving  three 'daughters,  Edith,  Florence  and 
Madge— familiar  names,  Mjss  Torwood.  Edith  was 
born  in  Cufeti,  and  resided"  there  with  a  maternal 
aunt.  Florence  was  sent  to  sch(H>l,  and  the  young- 
est and  eldest  sister  remained  at  fcome. 

"The  judge  in  the  fullness  df  time,  took  u  thinl 
wife  and  went  abroad  with  ht )  Abn»a4  lus  died, 
leaving  a  singular  will,  ^vy  wonl  of  which  was 
prompted,  I  have  no  doi4)t,  by  the  third  wife,  under 
whoso  influence  he  was  as  plafttio  as  wax.  It  |nv 
queathed  the  larger  half  of  irr.s  \\jealth  and  the  famij^ 
homestead  to  whichever  of  his  four  daughtci-ashui*! 
become  the  Brido  of  this  thirtl  wife's  son.    Very  ro- 


/ 


fk 


t 


'4^ 


TnanttiErp 


r  Komelliti 


• '  .» 


1%. 
r> 


unfair,  da  you  not  thiT)k  *),^Miss  Torwood?'* 
'  lie  might  as  well  have*fepoke$to  the  wihdoWjOuf^^' 


"«  f 


.•*• 


.  s 


7 


4 


,4 


«/  /  0-^"' 


266 


THE   SISTERS  OF*  TORWOOD, 


of  which  she  was  looking,  for  all  the  Signs  she  made 
of  hearing  him. 

"  Your  namesake,  the  Lucy  Ispeakof,thdughtso, 
at  all  events  ;  and  mojjt  bitterly  resented  the  wrong 
that  had  been  done  her.  She  Avas  ratiier  a  strange 
girl,  this  Lucy — outwardly  the  quietest  and  gentlest 
of  creatures,  inwardly  crafty,  designing,  ambitious,' 
longing  for  wealth,  and  the  power  wealth  give^^fl-n* I 
quite  unscrujHilous  what  means  she  took  to  gain  he» 
ends,\;o  that  these  means  Avere  not  found  out.  By 
stealth  she  discovered  and  read  the  will,  or  rather  a 
C9py  of  it  forwarded  by  her  father's  widow  from 
Italy ,*iand  from  that  time  her  mind  Was  made  up  to 
be  tfie  f(^rtHnate  sister,  and  inherit  her  father's 
wealth.  Iler  sisters  Florence  and  Madge,  as  rivals, 
she  did  not  particularly  fear,  but  of  Edith  she  knew 
nothing: 

"*  In  order  to  find  out  what  kind  of  a  persori  Edith 
was,  sjie  sent  Iluldah,  the  mulatto  I  spoke  of.  Miss 
Tofwood,  all  the  Wiiy  to  Cuba,  with  full  directions 
to  discover  her  sister.  Iluldah  fulfilled  her  mission 
well,  and  returned  with  full  particulars  about  the  ' 
time  the  widow  also  came.  Her  son  hnd  the  two 
absent  ^isters  were  sent  for,  and  the  lirst  act  of  the 
play  began." 

Colonel  Stuart  stopped.  There  had  been  a  gasp, 
a  fluttering  movement  of  one  hand,  a  partial  turn- 
ing of  the  head,  and  he  thought  she  was  going  to 
speak.     She  did  not,  however,  and  he  resumed  : 

*'  Iluldah  and  her  fqs^er  child  met  one  dark  night 
-iii4iioJiut-4Jx-thfr-vv:QQd^  -amUtogetber  eoaeeetett- 


.y 


^ 


^^^ 

■■".'■  "-„$ 

1 

t 

t 

) 

t 

Jp 

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(i  ■ 

i 

1 

f 

.  V 

t  " 

r 

- 

w 


plot,  a  darff  and   shameful    plot,   Misd    TorwootP 
though  it  broke  her  sistei's  heart. 


MJSS 


"r 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


?67 


made 

htso, 
^rong 
•aoge 
itlest 
tious,         .■^-  • 

By 

her  a 
from 
ap  to 
rher's 
ivals, 
mew 

Cdith 
Miss 
tions 
Bsion 

r- 

J  the 

two 

f  the 

?alp,  ,. 

turn- 
's to  ^ 

light  * 


"Edith  was  engaged,  as  they  beth  knem^to 


3KsTh£ 


a  ' 
y  gentleman  more  remarkable  for  his  good  loo^s^an 
his  steadfast  principles  or  feelings  of  honor.  Flor- 
ence was  a  beauty  and  a  flirt,  and  it  was  settled 
they  jfievQ  to  be  brought  together  in  every  possible 
way  arid  married.  That  would  be  one  sister  out  of 
the  way— Edith,  imperious  and  high-minded,  detested 
her  step-mother's  son  ;  therefore  was  not  likely 
.  to  be  his  wife— Madge  would  never  suit  him— Lucy 
was, perfection,  or  made  the  world  believe  she  was 
—what  more  natural  than  that  the  lucky  man  should 
grnsp  at  such  an  angel  bride,  with  so  many  dollars 

thrown  in. 

"  Tli^v  could  calculate  shrewdly,  Miss  Torwood, 

but   tliey  reckoned   without  their  host   after    all. 
When  we  see  a  day  too  sunshiny  we  suspect  it  will 
%  end  in  storm  ;  anything  too  sweet,  it  is  well  known, 
is  never   wholesome;  had  Lucy   been  a  little  less 
angelic  she  might  have  suit^  better,  but  like  many 
ptiier  actresses,  overplayed  thejnirt.     From  the  first 
he  suspected  her,  and  suspicion*  joon  became  certain- 
ty—there  were   nocturnal  meetings  in  the  grounds 
Avith  mysterious  personages,  and^^nocturnal  interviews 
' "      "seldom  are  ^  for  any  good  ;  tk're  were  plots  and  in- 
'       trigues  enough  for  d  tljrec-volame  nbvel,  and  he,  at 
whom  she  was  aiming  saw  through,  and  understood 
it  all.    It  pleased  him,  howev^pr,  to  play  the  uncon- 
scious for  a  time,  ami   the  pretty  actress  flattered 
herself  that  he,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  world, 
took  the  tinsel  for  gold.  . 

"  All  hor  Bchcnica  aeemnd  to  lie  succeeding  to  her 


1 


rood. 


heart's  content— the  match  she  had  made  ended'  in 
every  way  to.  her  conteutment— the  only  rivai^^shd 


<    .1 


>  Mmca 


/^.T^^^j/tr"  "--^^^f^ 


268  THE   SISTERS   OP  TORVi^OOD. 


dreaded  Avas  out  of  the  lists,  the  field  seemed  clear  to 
herself,  Avhen  lo  !  i»  the  very  hour  of  triumph, 
a  rival  seemed  rising  in  the  sister  she  had  feared  least 
'  I  suppose  It  made  her  desperate  to  see  the  ffold- 
en  prize,  for  which  she  had  plotted  and  schemed  so 
t.Jong,  shppin-  through  her  fingers  just  as  it  seemed 
brer  own,  and  a  desperate  woman  will  stoop  to  des- 
perate deeds. 

"  Mysteriously  Edith  disapp_eared-.lisappeared  as 
suddenly  and  unaccountal>ly  as  if  the  ground  had 
opened  and  swallowed  her.  All  search  since  has 
been  in  vain,  but  I  fiave  never  despaired  of  find- 
ing out  what  beaa^ie  of  her.  To  you,  Lucy  Tor- 
wood,  I  now  comfe-the  play  in  which  you  acted  so 
cleverly  is  played  out-you  may'drop  the  mask  you 
have  used  so  long  and  tell  the  truth!  Lucy  Tor- 
wood,  what  have  you  done  with  your  sister  ?  " 

She  did   not  speak.     For  sometime  before  her 
face  had  dropped  on  the  arm  resting  on  the  window 
and  she  had  never  moved  since.  ' 

"  Miss  Torwood,"  he  reiterated,  still  more  sternlf 
X  command  you  to  speak.     Is  your  sister  E<liih 
living  or  dead  ?  »  * 

■  Still  no  %ly,  no  motion  that  she  even  heard  liim 
A  little  stai;Ued,  hejaid  his  hand  on  her  shoulder  to 

'  iT^  ^r\'^  ^"""^  "^  ^*^^"^-     Still,more  alarmed,  he 
lifted  her  face,  and  his  own  turnetl  white  as  he  sdw 

It.    It  dropped  again,  heavily-sitting  •  there  she 
^had  rented  entirely  away.  •   ' 

•^^  Hmyloig  she  had  been  unconscious  he  could  not 
r^">  P^^Jl^Jy  from  the  time  her  heud  lifid  £vM%» 


> 

E 

P 
a 

..  , 

S( 

4 

• 

S 
ir 

t< 

a 
I 

IP- 

1 

her  arm" 


In  considerable  consternation  he  went 
out  .to  the  haH  ii^- search  of  he>p,  and  encountered 


^ 


w^ 


l»  I  ■« 


l.>  . 


■pf>t* 


> 


»■ 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


269 


Rosie,  the  housemaid,  armed  with  Isroom  atid  dust- 
pan. At  sight  of  the  gentleman  she  dropped  both 
and  jumped  back  as  if  she  had  seen  a  ghost,  her 
soream  of  surprise  ringing  through  the  hall. 

"  Don't  make  such  a  row  Rosie ;  it's  only  I.  Go 
get  some  cold  water  and  sal  volatile,  and  fetch  them 
in  here.     Miss  Lucy  has  fainted." 

"  Good  Lord  sir !  fainted!" 

"Yes ;  get  the  things  I  tell  you  at  once,  and.  attend 
to  her.     Where  is  Madame  TorwoocU  " 


"  In  her  room  sir.    Shall  I- 


"  No,  never  mind  !^  Attend  to  Miss  Lucy  first, 
and  when  she  is  restored  .you  m<7,y  tell  your  mistress 
I  am  here,  and  wish  to  se6  her  as  sfieedily  as  possible. 
The  cold  water  will  bring  Miss  Lucy  to,  I  thijik." 


U 


to 

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' 

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".'    *  - 

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•'•'.*.;>. -...:.„-'i»s^  n't;," .. 

270      ,       THE  SISTERS  OF   TORWOOp. 


v« 


/ 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


A    CONFESSION. 


'^^' 


Colonel  -Stuart  went  out  on  tlie  piazza,  and 
leaned  over  the  railing  to  e.^ch  the  fresh  morning 
breeze.  The  hoarse  barking  of  dogs  came  to  his  ear 
from  tlie  shrubbery,  and  surmising  who  was  there 
he  went  down.  Two  ugly  little  bull-dogs  were  fight-  - 
mg  furiously,  and  Madge,  in  a  black  straw  hat,  stood 
near,  urgmg  them  on. 

"  Go  it.  Lion  !  At  him.  Tiger !  That's  the  boy  » 
Good  old  Tiger !  You'll  beat  him  yet !  I  knew  vou 
would."  .     ,.  •' 

,"  Good-morning,  Madge,"  said  Colonel  Stuart 
shouting  to  be  heard  over  the  uproar.  «  Charminc^ 
employment  I  find  you  at  this  heavenly  morning"'' 

Madge  faced  round  and  at  sight  of  the  speaker  her 
eyes  opened  to  twice  their  usual  size. 

"  Gracious  me !  My  stars !  Whoever  would  have 
thought  it  !^' 

"  That's  a  nice  welcome,  isn't  it,  to  one  you  have 
not  seen  for  nearly  a  year  ?  Will  you  shake  hands 
and  say  you  are  glad  to  see  me  ?  " 

Madge  held  out  her  brvwn  digits  in  greeting. 

"  Of  course  F m  glad  t<:>  see  von .     T'd  he  gls, d  tn  ooq  _ 


my  worst  enemy  now  f^t  I  have  not  seen  a  new  face 
tor  the  last  three  moittim,  md  I  declare  I'm  fit  to 


t 


.-  \ 


THE    SISTERS   OF 


TORWOOD. 


271 


£ee= 


die  of  the  blues.     Where  in  the  worid  did  you,  of  all 
people,  drop  from  ?  " 

"  From  New  York,  the  last  place." 
'  "  When  did  you  'conic  ? " 

«  Last  night.  ■  I  got  in  without' disturbing  any- 
body, through  the  window.".     • 

"  l3id  you  see  any  of  the  folks  yet— Lucy  or  your 
mother?"         X^j 

* "  I  haye  just  left  Miss  Norwood.  She  has  grown 
"as  thin  as  -a  shadow  since  I  saw  her  last.  What  is 
the  cause?" 

Madge  looked  at  him  with  gravely  surprised  eyes. 

"  Do  you  need  to  ask  ?  I  think  we  have  had 
enough  trouble  of  late  to  make  the  whole  of  us 
shadows.  1  have  no  doubt  I  would  be  one  myself, 
only,  you  see,  I  have  such  a  powerful  appetite. 
What  were  you  doing  in  New  York.  f 

"  I  went  to  New  York  to  make  a  genteel  call  on  a 
fair  friend  of  mine— Mrs.  Florence, St:  Le(^,  by 
name." 

Madge's  eyes  flew  open  again. 

"  What !  call  oh  Florence !    I  don't  believe  it." 
.    "  Disbelieve  ijj  then." 

"  Did  you  reaJly,  though  ? " 
^     "I  really  did.     Would  you  have  rae  be  impolite 
enough  to  give  her  the  cut  direct ! "    ^       ""^-^^ 

"  I  should  ^1  tempted  to  give  her  a  cut  ^yith  ia^ 
horsewhip  if  she  were  oear  enough,"  said  Madge/ 
savagely.     "  Lion  !  Tiger !  be  still,  you  noisy  brutesA 
What  had  you  to  say  to  Mrs.  St.  Leon  i  "^  ( 
"  Ob,  acvcml  thiugb,  that  I  didn't  think-sbo  onrvA 


r 


about  hearing.    She  is  just  as  pretty  as  ever,  and 
very  popular  in  New  York." 


^I'i'         '     THE    SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 

"  Is  she  ?    Ah  !  "  cried  Madge,  cjawing  the  air  vi- 
-  ciously  with  her  fingers,  "hpw  I  wish  she  were  with- 
in reach  of  my  nails  ;  wouldn't  I  lacerate  her  beauty 
for  her!     Where's  he?"  , 

"  Captain  St.  Leon  ?  Down  South  m  Dixie.  I 
live  in  the  hope  of  raeetini  him  some  day,  and  spoil- 
mg  his  beauty  for  him.  I  say,  Madge  !  why  don't 
you  ask  after  Lieutenant  Moreen  ?  He's  quite  well 
though,  at  least  as  well  as  the  poor  fellow  is  ever 
likely  to  be  in  this  world  !  There,  don't  blush  •  he 
told  me  all  about  it."  ,     ' 

"  Bother !  '  Wh^e's  Angus  Torwood  ? " 
"  At  Washington,  in  the  hospital- wounded,  but 
not  badly.    Mr.  McPherson  was  there,  too,  when  I       . 
left."  ,  -   .  '  ,    * 

'  "  I  know  it ;  everybody's  left  Torwoodtown  ;  and 
of  all  the  dismal  holes-^-''  a  despairing  gesture 
finished  the  sentence. 

"My  poor  Madge !    And  how  do  you  managa\to 

exist  in  it  at  all  ? "  °   \  _ 

"  Echo  answers,  how  ?  for  lam  sure  I  don't  know.    < 
One  dreary  day  drags  on  after  another,  and  I  gape 
from  morning  till  ni^ht,  and  I  am  at  this  present     , 
moment  on  the  verge  of  melancholy  ,madn4s.  "if  ^ 
you  see  a   paragraph    in  the  papers- befqre   loner 
headeck 'Melancoly  Suicide ^^  High  Life  ! ''you may 
know  that  it  refers,  to  me  without  reading  it.    Ti^er, 
if  you  don't  stop  that  noise  this  minute,  you'll  come 
m  for  the  best  thrashing  you  have  haH  in  a  month 
of  .Sundays  ! "  *• 

"  Madge  !  "  cried  Colonel  Stuart,  speaking  frnm  a 


/T 


/* 


r 


sudden  impulse  «y<)a  want  a  changed     (^ome  with 
me  to  Washington."  '    ^ 


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''^iS 


THE  SISTERS  OE^rOUWOOD.  273' 

"  What  to  do  there  ?  '  n 

"  Anything  you  like.  Nurse  the  sick  in  the  hos- 
pital.   Lots  of  young  ladies  do  it." 

"  I  should  like  it  of  all  things,  but,  la!  what's  the  i 
use  of  talking  ?    I  won't  be  let !  "    ^  \ 

"  Who'll  hinder  r'  '  -  '  ■'  ^^■ 

"  Why,  Lucy  and  your  mother.  *  It  wouldn't  be 
proper,  and  it  wouldn't  be  this,  that,  and  the  other 
thing.'    Oh,  I  know!"  T^^ 

"  You  shall  coincif  you  WMit  it,  and  neither  Lucy 
nor  my  mother  will  object.     It  depends  on  yourself 

— yes  or  nof" 

"Yes,  to    be  surG.     I'd  go    to  Greenland  for  a 

chang^."^  '     "  '  \ 

"  But  I  leave  at  noon  in  the  steamer.  Can  you  be 
j-eady  in  four  or  five  hours  r' 

"  In  half  th4  time,  sir.  I'ni  not  a  young  lady  of 
furbelows  and  flounces,  I'd  have  you  know.  Well, 
Rosie,  what  do  you  want  |^ 

"  A  letter  for  you,  sir,",^sie  said,  handing  one  to 
-  Colonel  Stuart,  "from  Miss  Lucy." 
jMadge  stared. 

"  Never  mind,  Madge,"  said  he,  leisurely  opening 
it ;  "  it's  no  affair  of  yours,^my  dear ;  so  run  off  afid 
begin  packing."  \      '  \  j  v  i 

3Iadge,  not  quite  sure  that  it  was  Aot  all  a  .delightr^ 
ful  dream,  darted  off,  and  Colonel  Stuart  broke  the 
seal  of  the  letter.     Lucy  Torwood's  delicate  tracery 
was  not  quite  so  steady  a^suai,  and  the  epigtle  be-, 
gan  abruptly  enoughs  '^        .    ' 


I 


th 


*^  If  Colonel  Stuart  has  any  pity,  can  feel  any  com- 
passion  for  so  Ipst  and  fallen  a  V retch  as  I  am,  he 
i8 


-■\ 


fm... 


Wf^ 


^ 


, 


•  i.. 


274  THE  SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 

Will  depart  from  Toru'ood  Towers  Avithout  forcing 
me  to  see  him  again.  For  the  last  nine  months  f 
hav-e  been  waitmg  for  what  has  cometoday  I  am 
*U1  that  you  say,  a  base  intriguer,  a  miserable  hVr 
cnte ;  you  cannot  loathe  ancfdespise  me  more  tC 
I  loathe  and  despise  myself ;  but  1  am  no  murderess 
I  was  mad ;  I  know  it  now ;  but  as  Heaven  he?rs 
and  wfl  judge  me,  the  worst  I  intended  was  to  take 

Jo  wfe.^^^"^  ^^^'  -^  ^--  ^-  ^-k  t^  Cut: 

"Her  abduction  was  no  work  of  mine  I  knpw 
nothing  whatever  of  it ;  I  never  dreamed'of  s  ch  a 
thing -It  was  all  the  work  of  Huldah.  I  do  not  at 
tempt  to  ceny  that  I  had  plottedwithHuk lah  kit 
never  tor  timt-never,  nevir  !  1  cannot  deny  eite J 
that  froin  the  first  moment  her  loss  Avas(liS^ered  I 
knew  who  her  abductor  was ;  but  I  dared  not  spetk 
I  .knew  she  was  not  murdered  ^       ' 

"Huldah  confessed  all  to  me  the  next  time  we  met 
,und  owned  she  had  planned  it  all  out  lont  before 
,,  hand  with  the  secret  craftiness  of  the  paniall/[n' 
sane.  Some  friends  of  hers-negroes,  of  VourSv' 
?S  ofTortoiir'  ^"  ''''  ''f^'^^  ^^^  o  t." 
ner,  ami  thither  Huldah  conveved  her  in  i  flnnL'n,r 
cart,  that  July  ni^Wit  we  missedLr.  The  low  "ev^ 
burning  in  her  veins  before  she  left  chanJed  in  the 

wi:%e^  dlTt^f '-^"^"^  n^^-«'  and^vMle  vt 
uZl  searching  for  her  over  the  country,  she  Was 
lying  there  delirious.  Heaven  alone  knows  how  I 
felt ;  but  I  had  gone  too  far  to  recede.  Mv  cowml 
heart  WQuld  notlet  me  speak.  I  feared  JoJcn}nnl\ 
Stuart,  and  the  first  tim'e  Idared  breShrf  eSv  w^, 
when  you  left  the  Towers.  It  Edith  lived,  my  Yn  en 
dS  Then''  \T  ^'''  T'^y^^  b^^k  to  Cuba^  Tf  she 
^hf^i      :  i^^  ^^^'*^*^  "^"s*  ever  remain  untold 

=buis  niorning.      Itju  Icnow  sTie  recovered    and      ~~~ 
escaped.    Ho,v  she  did  it,  <,r  where  she  v^^ttofw 


-),^.. 


THK   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


275 


what  has  become  of  her,  I  know  not ;  but  I  am  cer- 
tain you  do. 

"  Colonel  Stuart,  I  have  spoken  the  trutli  at  hist, 
Edith  lives  ;  and  if  so  lost  a  creature  as  I  am  dared 
thank  God  for  anything,  it^Hmld  be  for  that.  If 
3'ou  have  any  mercy,  you  will  jmre  mo  the  ])ain  of 


a  second  interview^    Some 


ilPTor 


.,,  perhaps,  1  may 
kneel  before  Edith  and  ask  IflPTorgiveness,  and  her 
good-nature  is  so  great  she  will  grant  it,  I  know.  I 
have  sinned,  but  I  have  also  suffered.  Even  you 
Colonel  Stuart,  might  feel  for  me  a  little,  if  you, 
knew  how." 


It  ended  as  abruptly  as  it  had  begun.  Colonel 
Stuart,  refolding  it  with  a  very  grave  face,  caught 
sight  of  Rosie,  lingering  still. 

"  Ohf  T  thought  3'ou  had  gone,  Rosie.  Do  you 
Avant  anything?  "  he  asked. 

"  Yes,  sir  ;  misses  is  awake  now,  and  says  would 
you  please  walk  up  to  her  room  at  once  ?  " 

Colonel  Stuart  nodded,  p«,^i^cy's  letter  in  his 
pocket,  and  walked  slowly^ack  to  the  house. 

*'  So  far,  so  well,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  Poor 
Lucy !  even  old  Nick  is  not  as  black  as  he's  painted, 
Tve  heard,  and  I  believe  Lucy  really  tells  the  truth 
at  last.  There's  Madge  at  the  window,  all  ready,  I 
see  ;  sp  now  for  a  parting  interview  with  my  lady 
mother."  , 


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276  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


7-r 


8ISTEB   MABIE. 


vv„t  77°"^  day  ending  i„  aeet  ana  snow,  though  it 
was  hte  m  spnng,  was  closing  in  even  ng  glf„„ 
over  Washington  City.     The  lamps  in  the  ling  dim 
msles  of  the  hospital  wards  were  ^lely  glimmering 
on  the  restless  sufferers,  tossing  dreiuy  oHh^ 
fevensh  beds.    They  glimmered  on  the  docLs  g5^ 
theirevenmg  rounds,  and  on  the  blaek-tobTflgu.^ 
of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  flitting  from  coneh  to 
couch  ministermg  to  the  sick  soldier,  lying  theln 
Restless  on  his  hot  bed,  listening  to  thetvailingof 
the  raw  night  wind,  to  the  sleet  lashing  the  wi^ 
o«s,  and  to  the  moans  of  his  sick  commdes,  a  sd- 
dier  lay  near  the  end  of  the  ward.     Tossing  first  to 
one  side  and  then  to  the  other,  in  'the  impatient  wav 
pecuhar  to  sick  men,  he  looked  at  the  fLble  lam™ 
overhead,  at  the  passing  physicians  and  nur^s "rift 
Jidpty  impatience,  and  at  last  hailed  on#  of  the 
latter  going  by. 
"  Sister  Marie  I " 

A  nun  slender  of  figure,  youthful  of  face,  turned 
at  the  call.  Youthful  of  face,  but  startlingly  color- 
less  in  the  lamp-light,  and  lighted  bya  paifot  luml-" 
nous  dark  .y«,    Wonderfnl^yes  thV  We,  fiiir^ 


-  -"*  ^j'^13  i/uov  were,  lujjor 

Strange  power  and  intensity,  solemn,  mystic,  and 


% 


VS^tl      i     ■<=         -  r 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


277 


laniltjdy.  ^very  face,  it  is  said,  is  either  a  his- 
tdh  or  a  prophecy — liers  was  a  history— a  history  of 
siifferinfij  and  endurance ;  of  conquered  pride  and  re- 
bellious spirit ;  of  patience  and  waiting,  calm  wait- 
ing for  the  end. 

She  turned  now  at  the  sound  of  her  name,  with 
her  large,  dark,  mournful  eyes  fixed  expectantly  on 
the  patient's  face. 

"  "Doyou  want  anything.  Captain  Torwood?" 
she  asked,  in  a  low,  sweet  voice,  rendered  most 
musical  by  a  slight  foreign  accent. 

"  I  want  to  know  if  there  are  no  letters  for  me. 
It  is  time  there  wer*." 

"  There  can  be  none,  or  you  would  have  received  it 
before  now.  YoU  must  learn  to  wait  a  little  more 
patiently,  or  you  will  work  yourself  into  a  fever." 

"  How's  a  fellow  to  help  it  ?  "  grumbled  Angus, 
"stretched  here  like  an  overgrown  baby  from  week's 
end  to  week's  end,  with  nothing  more  exciting  to 
happen  than  being  stared  at  by  visitors,  or  the  com- 
ing of  your  gruel  and  beef-tea  !  I'll  go  mad  if  I'm 
kept  here  much  longer." 

A  faint,  moonlight  sort  of  smile  dawned  on  the 
pale  face  of  Sister  Marie. 

"  pjfcience,  patience,  Captain  Torwood !  You 
must  learn,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  world,  the 
great  lesson  of  life — endurance.  You  are  only  in 
the  alphabet  now." 

'*  J  never  want  to  get  beyond  it,  then !  Confound 
the  coloneH  why  doesn't  he  write?  I  beg  your 
pardon,  sister — but  he  ought  to  write ! " 


# 


"  Is  Colonel  Stuart  your  military  correspondent  T'* 
"  y^.  You  see,  Sister  Marie,"  Angus  said,  ear- 


278  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

mtly,  "he  has  gone  on  most  important  bnsiness- 

muXf' '""       "  "*  "''''"^'"'  '^  -nost  mysterious 

at prXtt,.''"^'''  ''"""^  echoed,  recoiling 
"  A  most  mysterious  anil  shocking  murder     If 
you  ever  road  ibe  papers  you  must  have  seen  it. 
Xhe  victm  was  a  cousin  of  mine,  Edith  Tonvood 

S  buTT'-r"  1  ""*  "°'"'-'^'  "•°"-  "■»'  -■-■ 

ave  her     ^,      ,%    "''  ■^°''"'  "<"•  S<>°1"e^s  could 
save  her.    She  fell  a  victim  to  the    iealousv  an,l 

avanceofadcHon  in  femMe  form-ber  own^Sl 

He  broke  off  suddenly.     Sister   Marie,  standin.. 

with  averted  face,  bad  made  a  sudden  and  passion" 

ate  gesture  with  one  band  passion- 

suImwL'""':''',''"*!  ."°~'  «""  y»»    tell  me  of 
such  thi»g8!     she  said  m  a  Voice  so  agitato<l  that 
be  scarcely  knew  it.    "  I  don't  want  &  hear  any 
tb.„  about  it.    Is  there  anything  w^t 

"  A  drink,  if  you  please.     I  should  ao^ve  told/ 
you  he  story  had  I  thought  it  would  .llock  you  sf/ 

.you  had  grown,  accustomed  to'  dreadful  things  ?  » 
Sister  Mane,  without  looking' at  him,  or  replyi, 
filled  a  glass  with  lemonade,  arid  handed  it  to  hi 
Is  there  anything  else  ?  »  she  asked. 
Kothing  else,  thank  you  I    Goodnight." 
Goodnight ! "   Sister   Marie    said,  and  w/th  a 
queer  look  in  his  eyes  Angus  Tor.ood  watchXher 

4:^th^i^^«-^^^^^^ 

A  long  hallseparated  the  hospital  from  t/at  por- 


r". 


is, 


i 


V:; 


»5 


*^. 


THE  SISTERS  OJF   TORWOOD.  279 

tion  of  the  building  occupied  by  the  sisters.  The 
pale  young  nun  walked  down  the  hall,  and  opening  a 
door  to  the  left,  entered  her  own  private  apartment. 

Sister  Marie  knelt  down,  dropping  her  face  into 
her  wan  white  hands,  and  remaining  so  motionless 
you  mighf  have  taken  her  for  an  ebony  statue.  So  ' 
long  she  knelt  that  the  stormy  evening  i)assi'd  into 
stormier  night,  and  when  she  rose  at  last,  the  pale 
lam|)-liglit  shone  on  a  face  wet  with  a  hot  rush  of 
tears. 

Takinjr  a  seat  at  the  window,  she  listened  to  the 
wind  and  rain.  Mii^gled  with  tlie  long  and  lament- 
able blasts  came  presently  another  sound— a  car'5-iage 
driving  at  a  furious  rate  over  tlie  graveled  drive. 
Directly  after  the  door-bell  rang  loudly  ;  Sister 
Marie  heard  the  portress  trotting  leisurely  along  to 
answer  the  summons,  j|^nd  then  the  sound  of  voices 
in  the  vestibule.  One  was  a  man's  voice,  the  deep 
masculine  tones  sounding  oddly  out  of  place  in 
those  monastic  rooms.  Visitors  that  stormy  night ; 
but  it  was  nothing  to  Sistej^  Marie^ — she  expecte<l 
none — and  so  sat  on,  dreaming  and  listening.  Sit- 
ting thus  some  one  who  opened  the  door  suddenly 
found  her,  and   the  sister  turning  round,  saw  the 

portress. 

"  YoU  are  wanted  sister,"  she  said.  "  There  is  a 
visitor  for  you." 

-     Sister  Marie  rose  with  a  startled  look. 
"  For  me  ?     Are  you  sure  'i  " 
"  It  is  Colonel  Stuart.     He  is  talking  to  Mother 
Frances  now  in  the  vestibule.     It  was  she  who  sent 

nnie  here  for  you.       - 

Sister  Marie  went  out  without  a  word.     In  the 


<■     It 


r 


If 


280  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

brightly  lighted  vestibule  a  tall  figure  in  a  wet  over- 
coat stood,  hat  iu  hand,  talking  to  Mother  Francesr 
a  pleasant-faced  lady,  of  mature  age.^  The  parl^ 
doqrstanding  open,  Sister  Marie  caught  a  glimpse 
of  a  lady  sitting  therein,  dressed  in  mourning  •  and 
something  about  her  even  in  that  fleeting  glimpse 
made  her  heart  give  a  sudden  bound.  Colonel 
Muart  and  the  mother  were  conversing  earnest^ 
but  both  turned  at  her  approach.  ' 

lliippy  to  see  you  again,  lister  Marie,"  the  col- 
onel said,  holding  out  ffs  hand  ;  "how  are  Vou  and 
all  your  patients  ?  " 

,"  He  has  been  asking    for    Captain    Torwood 
Mother  Frances  said;  "he  is  in  your  ward,  is  he 

not  { '  , 

"  Yes,  mother,  and  is  nearly  cotf^alescent." 
^  "  You  have  founH^  him  a   troublesome  char ^^e    I 
.ancy,"  Colonel  Stuart  said,  smiling.  '^  ' 

"  Kather  an  impatient  one,  but  nol;  otherwise  trou- 
blesome. He  expected  a  letter  from  you  this  even- 
ing, and  seemed  very  much  annoyed  at  not  receiving 

"  I  have  done  better  than  write-I  bring  him  all 
the  news  in  person.  I  bring  some  to  youj  also, 
Sister  Mane."  ;  ' 

Again  Sister  MarieS  face  took  that  white,  star- 
tied  look.     It  reminded  Colonel  Stuart  of  Lucy  Tor 
wood,  standing  that  sunny  spring  mornin<^  bv  the 
window  in  the  dining-Zoom  of  Toru-ood  Towers 
He  looked  at  her  with  a  keen  glance  as  he  spoke. 
"  Yes,  I  bring  a  friend  ;  a  young  lady  who  is 
jjiostanxiousto  see  you.    Am^^a  strong  enough 
to  bear  a  shock ! "  »  e> 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


281 


^he  turned  from  him  to  the  mother,  her  hands 
clasped,  her  lips  parted. 

"  Oh,  mother " 

"  Go  in,  dear  child,"  the  elder  lady  said,  looking 
at  her  with  smiling  eyes  ;  "  fear  nothing.  No  one 
but  your  friends  ^will  come  here." 

"  Is  it — tell  me,  is  it — "  Sister  Marie  began,  hur- 
ried and  agitated,  but  the  colonel  interfered. 

"  I  have  promised  not  to  tell  you  anything.  The 
young  lady  I  bri^g  knows  how  to  speak  for  herself. 
Come!" 

He  turned  into  the  parlor.  Sister  Marie  made  no 
motion  to  follow  him  until  the  mother,  still  sniiling 
encouragingly,  took  her  by  the  hand  and  led  Ijer 
forward.  In  the  blaze  of  the  chandeliers  sat  a  girl 
dressed  in  deep  black,  youthful  and  slender,  Avith  a 
pair  of  great  black  eyes  flashing  back  the  gas-light, 
and  a  jocky  hat  set  on  a  profusion  of  black  braids — 
for  Miss  Madge  Torwood's  locks  had  grown  of 
late. 

The  moment  Sister  Marie  entered  she  sprang  up 
from  her  seat,  made  an  impetuous  rush  at  her,  And 
caught  her  in  her  arms  with  a  shrill  scream  of 
"Edith!" 


•  A 


t 


•A   ♦ 


282 


THE  SISTERS   OF    TOKWOOD. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 


resubgamI 


esa  sea  for  her  wmding-sheet,  but  sitting  here  in  the 
amp-hght,  w,th  Madgo  clinging  to  her,  crying  and 
auglung,  and  talkihg,  all  together,  w  th^hoC 
be  ween.  Pale  and  shadowy,  certainly,  the  dlrl? 
thm  face  wasted  by^  sifkness  and  suffering  the 
old  hanghty  look  gone,  the  old  hanghty  step' and 
btanng  altered,  bnt  the  gr.at,  darkf  solemn^je 
uncbanged,  the  old  rare  smile  that  was  wont  to  light 

Yes-Krr  '".^"SMy,  bright  as  ever  still. 

1  es,  Edith,  nsen  again. 

It    was    all    over,   the    first    agitated    meeting 
Questions  had  been  asked  and  answered,  no  end  of 
kissing  and  ecstatic  hugging  on  Madge's  part,  and 
nov  Edith  was  sitting  down,  white  Itnd  agitkted, 
but  trying  hard  to  be  calm  ;  and  Madge  ^vaf  kneei: 
ing  before  her,  her  arms  round  her  waist,  her  black 
eyes  intently  gazing  at  the  Creole  face,  asking  a 
shower   of  breathless  questions.      Colonel    Stuart 
stood,  as  he  had  been  standing  ever  since  their  en- 
trance, by  the  window,  his  baclr  to  them,  absorbed 
seemingly  m  looking  at  the  black,  blind  night,  and 
listening  to  the   wild  spring  storm.     Thfy  'were 
^ne  together,  for  the  mother  had  gone.^  "" 

"  And  so  you  are  not  de^d  in  spite  of  everybody 


Y  • 


THE.  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


283 


"-uayiflg  so,  and  not  a  nun,  though  you  wear  their 
dress?  Well,  I  ne<^er!  "  Madge  was  exclaiming  for 
the  dozenth  time.  "I  do  dechire  it's  the  most 
wonderful  affair  I  ever  heard  of — beats  the  '  Castle 
of  Otranto,'  and  the  '  Mysteries  of  the  Forest,'  all  to 
sticks.  You  might  have  knocked  me  down  with  a 
feather  when  Colonel  Stuart  told  me  about  it  first. 
Begin  af  the  beginning,  like  the  author  of  the 
'House  that  Jack  built,'  and  tell  us  all  about  it." 

Edith  smiled — the  imperative  tones  reminded  her 
so  of  the  authoritative  Madge  of  other  days. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  *  all  about  it„'  i^a  ehere  ? 
Do  you  not  know  all  already  ?  " 

"  No,  nor  half !  I  know  Huldajj  /carried  you  off 
that  night  in  a  donkey  cart  to  some  old  hut  out- 
side of  Torwopdtowri,  and  that  you  were  there  crazy 
with  brain  feveti  While'  we  were  going-distriicted 
and  raising  the  country  generally  in  search  of  you. 
I  tell  you  >vhat,  Edith,  the  war  in  Maryland  was  a 
small  circumstance  about  that  time  compared  with 
the  hunt  we  Jiad  for  your  melancholy  remains  and 
assassinators !  How  long  were  you  with  Iluldah 
anyway  ? "  -  - 

f'Over  two,  nearly  three  m'bnths.  That  I  re- 
covered from  that  dreadful  fever  is  in  itself  almost 
a  miracle.  The  old  negress  that  owned  that  hut 
was  doctor  and  nurse  herself — I  never  saw  another 
creature  whilp  there,  except  Iluldah.  She  was  kind 
enough  to  me,  too,  after  a  fashion  of  her  own,  but  I 
fancy,  was  heartily  tired  of  her  charge  long  before 
she  was  rid  of  me."  —  _  — 


„  "  What  did  they  intend  doing  with  you  after  you 
got  well  ? " 


if 


<^ 


284  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

f  « Of^iw^?  '"^^'^^"'^  lengthened.         . 

Ut  allthe  l.ypocrites-but  then.  I'd  raf  horn. f 
mention  her,  for  fear  1  might  get  exci  ed  DM  h 
you  ,vant  to  get  back  to  cSba  f "  ^'^"^ 

"Sister  mine,"  said  Editli,  sorrowfnllv  « f      .u 
sJiould  I  have  nono  ?     Ar,.  «wtuJly,    to  whom 

-^;,.a.ti&.^-J-- 

^.  Madge  administered  a  few  consoling  hugs  and 

;;  Poor,  dear  Edith!     So  you  ran  away  ?  "        ■ 
1  did   when  I  was  strong  enough  "  said  Fdif], 
smihn<j:,  "  which  u-i«   «r.f   r  ^^  -t-uith, 

e>     Hiiicn  ^\as  not  for  manv  a  wearv  J.,,/ 
1  knew  where  T  u-.c      t  1  ^veaiy  uay. 

plan,  and  quieM,  l.ic,:"";; "''ne,"'"™'^^  ""^  "- 

Stuart,  turning  l.is  crave  fneJf     '   .,  '^°''""'' 

among  tl,e  rest  hou-  terribly  Lir  v^T        7   ' 
would  be  at  your  loss  "  ^"^  *'™"''^ 

ily'fo'hi? L":"""^"^  '"''  ■'"-'  ""--'-  stead- 

Tnrw/  w""''' '  *''"''™''  ^"■•»'«'<'  hated  me  •  Luev 


Madge.  soW;.p,S  Cr^jid^rtXt™  f 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD.  •>8'^ 

less  romp,  with  no  love  or  care  for  anytliing  eurthlv^ 
but  lier  dogs  and  horses.  Who  were  my  friends  at 
Torwood  Towers?" 

"  Now,  if  there  ever  was  heard  s(j  ungrateful  a 
speech  !  "  slirilly  broke  out  Madge.  "  Weren't  -^ve 
on  the  verge  of  killing  you  with  kindness  that  time 
before  you  disappeared,  when  you  went  difwdling 
about,  day  in  and  day  out,  neitlier  sick  nor  well, 
but  just  as  aggravating  as  ever  you  could  be^  ^    A 

" Didn't  Madame   Torwood  call   you    'my    dearj''"" 
three  distinct  times  in  my  own  hearing  i  .didn't  Lucy 
l)repare  oceans  of  beef-tea,  and  chicken  broth,  and 
calves'  feet  jelly,  which  you  woukln'teat^  and  didn't  > 
I  make  a  martyr  of  myself  every   day   of  my  life[ 
devouring  them  for  you,  r 

"  Didn't  Dr.  Stuart  launch  into  the  wildest  exn 
travagance  in  the  Avay  of  books  and  muigazinos,  andl 
spend  all  his  spare  change  buying  you  flowers  and 
fruit,  and  various,  things  of  that  sort  ?  Then,  as  for 
Florence,  you  owe  her  more  than  anybody  else,  for; 
if  ever  you  came  to  luck  in  your  life,  Edith  Tor- 
wood,  it  was  getting  rid  of  that  niean  little  danf 
dified  Jackeymo  St.  Le^^  Friends  indeed- i  that 
just  shows  how  much  SStitude  there  is  in  this 
world ! "  T '  )it^ 

-Madge's  eloquence,  when  it  broke  forth,  was  like 
a  mountain  torrent,  resistless.  Both  Edith  and 
Colonel  Stuart  broke  into  a  smile. 

"  I  am  not  so  ungrateful  as  you  thiqk.  Miss  Madge," 
Edith  said,  43aressing  the  indignant  face.     "  I  remem- 
ber well  how  kind  you  all  were  in  those  days ;  but 
nothing  could  have  templed.  infebacTc  to  Torwood  ~^ 
Towers.    I  knew  I  w^s  thought  to  be  dead,    I  knew 


.    ! 


<  'I 


/T 


'"^ 


'286 


THE   SISTEJ?S   OF   TORWOOD. 


clilJIJent  search  was  being  made  for  rtie,1>ut  my  whole 
thought  was  how  to  evade -it,  to  escape  from  you 

"  Tn  the  dead  of  nigTi|,  #hen  my  l^lack  nurse  lay 
^     hm led  in  c  ecpest  sleep,  I  made  my  escape,  found  my 
.>y  mto  the  town,  and  next^uorning  at  dayii^.t 
.     was  nngmg  tl>e  bell  at-the  convent  door.     The  xrood 
i      T'^,  ^T^  ""''  welV^ort  as  my  st^iy.had  beSi^t 
^     Tonvbod  Towers;  with   them  I  knew  I  was  safe- 
with  them  I  felt  sure  of  alvelcome  ahd  tf  j^ome        ' 
I  need  not  speak  of  the  shock,   the  amazement, 
almost  consternation,  of  the  sisterhood  at  seeing  the 
dead  alive.     I  explainecUs  much  as  was  Necessary 
to  al  except  the  mother^to  her  alone  I  told  all,  ami 
asked  for  secrecy  and   shelter,   for   the   present  at 
least.     I  scarcely  knew  what  I  meant   te  do-go  to' 
the  city  and  try  to  ol)tain,  under  an  assumed  pame 
a  situation  as  governess,  or  something  like  that      T 
Avished  to  take  the  veil,  but  our  kind  mother  would 
not  let  me  act  on  impiilse.     '  Wait,  dear  child,' she 

and  If,  after  half  a  year,  you  find  you  really  have  a 
•  .  vocation,  no  one  will  be  happier  than  I  to  receive 
you  among  us.'  So,  Ma<Igo,  while  you  all  were  search-^ 
ing  for  some  clew  to  the  mysterious  murder,  the 
murdered  one  Was  tranquilly  living  In  your  verv 
midst."  ■  •'  .' 

.  "And  very  shabby  it  ^as  of  you,"  was  M^dgo's 
blunt  comment,  -  not  to  say  selfish.  How'  did  you 
knQw^6on*e  one  might   not  be  afrested   on  suspi> 

"I  should  have  known,  and   in   that  case  would 

-have  aiipcared  ;  but  no  one  was.     J  In-ed  on   with      ; 


f 


h 


."  -i 


t 


\ 


THE    SISTERS\^PK   TOmVoOD.    ^        »87 

the  sisters,  ami,  liavipg  no^  dresses  of  my  /<>\vn,  as. 
j^suraed  a  habit  simil^ir  to  theirs,  to  avoid  exciting  re- 

iTjarks  by  peculiarity  of  costumi;.  I  dropped  my  first 
-.nkhie  of  Edith,  and  took  my  secoml,  ]\I;i,rie,  so  that  1  . 

wear  this  reclUse  robfe,  a^id  am  called/Sister  Marie, 

without  bciiiij  in  the  least  a  nun." 


"  For  which,  thanksgiving  I   *^Vilat's  more,  I  don't  - 


\ 


beli 


eve  yoiyiev'er  will  b'ea  nun,"  sidd  Madge,  her" 
eyes  twinlang.  "  And  so.  when  the  j-est  of-tlio  sisters 
came  here  to  h)ok  afte^^fne  wounded  soldiers,  Sister 
Marie  came  with. them?"  .^-^ 

.    "  She  did,  very  glad  to  get  anywhere  out  of  for- 
woodtown,  and  here  she  has  been  since." 

"  And  so  we  have  gdt  to  the  end  of  the  story,  by 
a  somewhat  circumbendibus  route,  at  last,"  said 
Madge,  drawing  a  long  breath.  "  AncLnow,  what's 
the  next  thing  that'^  to  ^happen,  I   should  like   to 

knowl"  ^  ^  ,  " 

"Should  you  f"  said  Colonel  iStuart,   advancing.- 
-"^  Don't  bo  too  impatient,  myjdear  Madge,  and  you 
shall  hear  all  about  it.     Sisteir' Marie— Mir,s  T^orwood 

^    By  the  way,  mademois^le,    how  are   we  to 

address  you  J^" 

"  Oh,  sav  Edith  :  the  other  two  are  misnomers." 
" '  Say  Edith  ! ' ".  mimicked  Madge.  "  Tliere  was 
a  time  when  Dr.  Stuart  scarcely  dared  to  look  at 
Miss  Edith  Torwood,  much  less  pronounce  her 
august  name.  But  then,  he's  q,  colonel  now,  and 
time  and  military  button^  do  work  wonders." 

Th(B  old  wicked  light  sparkled  in   the  laughing 
^lue  eyes.     Colonel  Stuart  turned  on  Edith,  and 
Edith's  pallor  lapsed  for  a  moment  into'  "celestial 
ros^red,"  \  "..•,.- 


\ 


,1 


. 


^ 


I 


•L- 


l,\» 


.-> 


288 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TOgWOOD. 


ft' 


There  was  a  time,  little  sister,  when  I  did  not 
know  my  friends  from  my  enemies,"  Edith  said,  her 
sweet  voice  trembling  a  little ;  "  but  that  time  is 
past,  and  forever.  I  know  Colonel  Stuart  far  better 
than  I  ever  did  Dr.  Stuart."  ^, 

"And  like  him  a  little  better,  I  hope,"  saidUt- 
,  spoken   Madge;    "he -is  not  so  utterly  depraved 
after  all.     Even  Old  Harry,  they  say,  is  not  L  black 
as  he  is  painted."  ' 

Colonel  Stuart  n-tfide  Madge  a  bow. 
_  "I  appreciate    tiie  compliment,    mademoiselle 
Do  you  remember,"  turning  to  Edith, «  the  morninir 
after  your  arrival  here  ? " 

^"  When  I  encountered  you,  and  Angus,  and  Mr. 
McPherson  ?  "  she  said,  looking  amused.  «Is  it 
likely  I  shall  forget  it  ?  "i* 

"Talk  of  galvanic  shocks,"  said  the  colonel  •  «  I 
never  was  so  completely  electrified  in  all  my  'life 
I  was  confident  you  were  living,  but  I  had  no  more 
Idea  of  meeting  you  here  than  I  would  of  meetiuL' 
Madge  in  the  wilds  of  Kamschatka.  I  frightened 
Angus  out  of  a  year's  growth,  I  believe,  too." 

"  What  a  mercy-you  did  not  swoon  in  somebody's 
arms,"  said  Madge,  turning  up  the  whites  of  her 
eyes.  «  How  did  you  scare  Mr.  Torwood  ? » 
^  "  ^y  whispering  in  his  ear  one  little  phrase, '  Edith  ' 
^shere!^  The  cry  he  gave  at  the  announcement 
brought  up  Mr.  McPherson,  and  Angus  afterward 
told  him  all.  Did  you  really  think  you  were  unrec- 
ognized, Edith?" 

"I  really  did.    I  knew  my  illness  Jiad  altered  me  • 
=ftml  then  there  was  my  ffl^pise— my  nun^rdress"^^ 
An^s  sometimes  gave  me  reason  to"  think  he  sus^ 


V 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


289 


'*-rr 


pected ;  but  you   were  all  very   discreet,   Colonel 
Stuart." 

"  Why  didn't  you  let  Edith  know  you  recognized 
her  ? "  Avas  Madge's  sensible  question,  and  Colonel 
Stuart  laughed. 

"  One  (5i  my  whims,  I  suppose.  I  had  a  fancy  for 
"finding  out  the  whole  thing  first,  by  myself — the 
pretense  being  to  know  for  certain  whether  or  not 
she  really  were  a  Sister  of  Charily." 

"  That  was  nothing  to  you,  I  should  think,"  said 
Madge.  gj^ 

"  Wasn't  it  ? "  replied  Colonerafuart,  with  a  queer 
look.  "  1  found  out  my  way  from  Mother  Frances, 
and  thus  set  out  for  New  York,  where  Florence  was, 
and  is,  flourishing  like  a  queen,  to  begin  my  investi- 
gation., A  rare  fright  I  gave  Mrs.  St.  Loon,  and  in 
her  terror  she  made  an  open  cojifession  of  all,  I 
had  long  ago  suspected  Lucy  ;  but  my  suspicions 
became  certainty  then.  I  returned  to  Torwood,  had 
an  interview  with  Huldah,  who  proved  obdurate  as 
a  rock,  and  ;  would  reveal  nothing.  It  mattered 
little,  however.  I  knew  I  could  force  a  confession 
of  guilt  from  Lucy  herself,  and  did  so,  before  I  saw 
you  next  morning,  Madge." 

"  It  seems  to  me  you  took  a  great  deal  of  trouble 
for  nothing,"  was  Madge's  comment.  "  You  saw 
somebody  else  before  you  left,  too." 

"  My  motjiftp.— ji^fis ;  and  that  reminds  me  she  will 
be  here  to-morrow  to  take  charge  of  you  again.  Miss 
Madge,  and  to — to  welcome  you,  Edith,  back  to  life." 
— "^eis  very  kind,"  Editli  said,  shrinking  a  Uttte^ 
however,  at  the  idea  of  meeting  her  frigid  step- 
mother. 
19 


290  THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

Colonel  Stuart  saw  it. 
"  I  '-assure  you,"  he  said^  earnestly,  «  you  will  find 

glad  to  see  you.     Her  m,h  Was  that  you  should 

;:wi^!^;,^^^--^-^^^^''-vhiLh^ 

shall  remain  here.     Madge,  of  course,  will  stay  with 
her ;  but  this  is  my  home."  ^ 

;;  Until  you  return  to  Torwood  Towers  you  mean  " 
«I  am  not  sure  that  I  shall  ever  return  there 

Colonel  Stuart-never,  at  least "  ' 

She  stopijed  ;  but  he  understood  her 

'   ."While  Lucy  is  there.     Can  Sister  Marie  not  for 
give  and  forget  ?  "  .  ^  ^^^' 

"  I  have  forgiven  long  ago-forgotten  is  quite  an 
other  matter.     Lucy  would  no  mo^e  wish  to  see  me" 
there  than  I  should  wish  to  go  " 

^        ^vill  not  object  to  seeing  her,  Edith?"  ' 

Certainly  not,  Colonel  Stuart." 
"  C'an't  I  see  Angus  to-night  ?  "  asked  Madge     "  I 


I 

r 

1 

1 

J 


f  ^r^t^  then^MiTTOloIonl,  taking  u 
hat.        I  shall  see  you  both  early  to-morrow." 


his  hat. 


up 


;i.  J 


1!V«,.„»1jO  , 


«-  *£iit       -  vJL^;''!' 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


291 


Edith  looked  at  him  wistfully. 

"  I  have  not  thanked  you  yet,  Coloilel  Stuart,  and 
I  owe  you  a  great  deal.  How  am  I  to  prove. I  am 
not,  as  Madge  says,  ungrateful  ?  " 

He  turned  round  with  the  old  bright  smile  she 
remembered  so  well. 

,  "  By  granting  me  a  boon  I  am  going  to  ask  before 
long." 

She  looked  puzzled. 

"  What  is  it  ?    I  don't  understand." 

"  Madge  is  listening,  and  might  be  scandalized," 
he  said,  laughing.  "  I  can't  explain  now.  You 
shall  have  a  chance  to  prove  your  gratitude,  though, 
Miss  Edith,  before  long ;  and  so,  good  night." 


or 


•+i-/j^  i  f'^te.rt**''' 


292    .         THE   sVsTERS  OP  TORWOOD. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

I  POSSIBILITIES. 

"  Man  proposes,"  so  do  young  latlies  occasionaU^ 
and  uuth  the  same  result.    Eolith  had  made  up  h^^ 
mind  to  stay  in  the  hospital ;  but  wW-MadaiS^' 
Torwood  came  there  in  state,  in  ajflnd  barouche, 
her  graceful  form   enveloped  /a  stylish  velvet 

'"?      .'  3^^^"^  ^"""''^«  ^^dole"t  of  perfume,  her 
cobm,b  t^nakerehfef  moist  with  penitent  teai^and 
desceiAJing  gracefully  into  th:eTalIcy  of  Humilia- 
tion, implored  forgiveness  for  the  past,  and  friend- 
ship for  the  future,  Edith  could  not/refuse.    I^either 
could  she,  when  implored,  as  a  pro/)f  of  that  forgive- 
ness, decline  visiting  madame  id  her  hotel  f  so 
half-yielding,  half-reluctant,  the/great  lady  carried 
her  point  and  her  Creole  stepnl^ughter  back  with 
her,  and,  what  was  more,  had  kept  her  ever  since 
Marvelous  was  the  change  that  had  come  over  the 
spirit  of  madam's  dream.     Edith  wa^  in  a  fair  way 
of  being  killed  with  kindness  in  her  step-mother's 
extreme  solicitude  to  atone  for  the  past ;  and  Edith  ( 
being  a  good  Christian  as  you  all  know,  could  do 
no  less  than  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace,  and  submit  to 
being  called  "my  love,"  and  kissed  every  night  and 
morning,  with  a  good  grace, 


fe^Tiretty  ^tting-room,  rooking  out  on  a  lon^ 
street,  a  young  lady  sat  in  a  low  rocking-chai^ 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


293 


swaying  to  and  fro,  and  alternately  watching  the 
stream  of  restless  life  below  and  reading  the  morn- 
ing paper.  ^  young  lady,  tall  and  slender,  black- 
eyed  and  curly-haired,  whose  rosy  cheeks  and  crim- 
son Zouave  jacket  were  of  much  the  same  shade, 
and  xvhose  restless  foot  beat  somebody's  tattoo  on 
tite  carpet  impatiently  while  she  rocked. 

It  was  Miss  Madge  Torwood,  of  course,  who  un- 
able to  scour  the  country  as  of  yore,  the  moment 
she  was  out  of  dreamland,  was  sitting  thus  arrayed 
for  the  day  at  eight  in  the  morning,  waiting  for 
somebody  to  come  and  call  her  to  breakfast. 

Meanwhile,  by  way  of  sharpening  her  appetite 
for  that  meal,  she  was  devouring  the  latest  news 
from  the  seat  of  war.  A  skirmish  had  taken  ]>lace 
somewhere,  with  no  decisive  results  on  either  side, 
and  Madge  was  deep  in  the  dismal  details,  when  the 
door  opened,  and  somebody  came  in.  Down  went 
the  paper,  and  up  jumped  the  youngest  Miss  Tor- 
wood.  ' 

"  Is   breakfast  read .      Wh}^,  good   gracious 

me !  Angus  Torwood  !  you  never  mean  to  say  this 
is  you  ?  "  '^ 

For  instead  of  Filine,  madam's  maid,  who  had 
come  with  her  from  Torwood,  a  pale,  hollow- 
cheeked,  sunken-eyed  vision,  in  the  blue  and  gold 
of  Uncle  Sam's  service,  stood  before  her,  chapeau 
in  hand. 

"  It's  all  that's  left  of  me,"  said  Captain  Tor- 
wood.  "  How  do  you  do  this  morning,  Madge  ? 
Reading  the  news?" _^^___ 


Madge,  with  her  black  eyes  very  wide  open  in  her 
astonishment,  pushed  a  chair  toward  him. 


.4.M-»^ 


i       ' 


^'^ 


294  THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 

"  Sit  down !    Who  on  earth  would  ever  think  of 
seeing  you  at  this  hour  of  the  day  ?    Has  the  hos 
pital  taken  fire,  and  have  they  turned  you  out  on 
the  charity  of  the  world,  to  cool  yourself?    I  de 
Clare  yoii  lock  as  if  you  had  been  dead  a  week  and 
somebody  had  dug  you  up.*'  '    , 

^"  Thank  you.  Miss  Torwood !  you  always  were 
more  candid  than  polite.  I  suppose  the  rest  of  the 
good  folks  are  not  up  yet  ? " 

"Up  yet !  "  reiterated  Madge,  in  tones  of  piercing 
shrillness;  "if  folks  will  sit  up  to  three  or  four 
o  clock  in  the  morning,  they  Wt  be  expected  to 
get  out  of  bed  at  day-dawn.  \  say  it's  a  downright 
scandal  burning  gas  and  candles  and  savino-  the  sun 

tlie  way  people  do  in  this  house,  and  I  mean  to  she 
,  Edith  a  piece  of  my  mind  ^bout  it  just  as  soon  as 

she  makes  her  appearance." 
"  Fhat  kept  Edith  up  to  three  or  four  in  the 

raormng?"  inquired  Captain  Torwood,  hooking  a 

stool  toward  him  with  the  .head  of  his  cane  and 

resting  his  feet  thereon. 

•l^nT  ^^^^^'^^^^  ^  Settling  the  affairs  of  State 
with  Colonel  Stuart  and  his  mamma.  I  went  down 
this  mbrnmg  just  to  see,  and,  if  you'll  believe  me 
the  candles,  six  long  wax  candles,  lighted  for  the 
hrst  time  at  half-past  eight  last  night,  were  bnriie.1 
clear  down  before  these  three  left  the  parlor^kst 

.  "Is  it  possible ?  »  said  Angus,  smiling  at  Madge's 
indignant  solemnity  ;  "  and  why  didn't  Madge 
make  one  of  the  party  ? " 

^  "^For  the  very  best  of  reasons,  they^otildn^  let^^ 
me!    Oh,  no!  it  would  never  do  for  me  to  hear 


THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 


295 


their  secrets,  so  I  was  politely  turned  out.  But  the 
next  time  they  do  it,"  cried  Madge,  glaring  at  va- 
cancy, "I'll  listen  at  the  keyhole,  I  \yill,  sahelp 
nie !  The  Torwoods  are  getting  mean  enough  for 
anything— there's  Lucy  turned  out  a  sinner  and 
a  reprobate  on  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  there's  Flor- 
ence running  away  with  another  girl's  property  ; 
there's  yourself  getting  bullets  in  your  system,  all 
in  pursuit  of  glory ;  there's  Edith  going  Vo  marry 
Paul  Stuart,  after  pretending  to  hate  tiie  ^ery 
ground  he  walked'on.  I  don't  kno%v  what  things  are 
coming  to,  but  I  do  know  this  world  is  allXHeol- 
ing  show,  as  Mr.  Moore  remarks,  and  nobody  in 'it 
can  be  trusted  as  far  as  you  can  see  him  or  her,  and 
I'll  listen  at  the  keyhole  if  they  won't  let  me  in— 
you  see  if  I  don't,  that's  all ! "         ~ 

"  How  do  you  know  Edith  is  going  to  be  married 
to  Colonel  Stuart  ?  "     Angus  asked. 

"How  do  I  know!"  retorted  Madge,  in  high 
tones  of  scorn.  "  How  do  I  know  the  sun  is  shinning 
up  in  the  sky  there!  Because  I  see  it.  Dgn't  1 
know  he  is  going  to  buy  Torwood  Towers  from  his 
mother— it's  hers  now,  it  seems— buy  it  at  wliatever 
Mr.  McPherson  and  a  lot  of  others  may  value  it  at ; 
and  don't  I  know  he  refused  to  have  anything  to  do 
with  that  will,  and  that  we  four  girls  are  to  get  our 
equal  share  of  papa's  money,  as  if  the  will  had 
never  been  made ;  and  I  know  that  Lucy  and  Ma- 
dame Torwood  are  going  off  to  Europe  together ; 
and  I  know  what's  worst  of  all,  that  I'm  to  be  sent 
,  to  school,  as  if  I  wasn't  learnetl  enough  for  every=-- 
thing  now,  and  to  a  convent  at  that !  I  wish  the 
convent  joy  that  gets  me,  anyhow ;  they'll  be  just 


296 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


as  sorry  for  having  me  there  as  I  "am  to  go,  or  my 
name's  not  Madge ! " 

"And  how  have  you  found  out  all  this,  pray? 
At  the  keyhole  ?"  inquired  Angus. 
Madge  nodded,  mysteriously. 
"  Never  you  mind.  Captain  Torwood.    i've  found 
it  out,  and  that's  enough.     Will  you  go  to  Edith'4 
wedding  ? "  ^  / 

"  If  I  am  asked — ^certahilv."  / 

"  Oh,  you  will !  There  was  a  time— but  no  mat- 
ter—you  might  blush  if  I  allude  to  it.  I  suppose 
you'll  be  off,  going  to  the  war  again,  and  getting  a 
few  raprCbullets  into  you  now  that  you're  able  to 
be  about  ? " 

"  Would  you  be  sorry,  Madge  ?  " 

"Sorry  for  what?" 

"  If  I  were  shot." 

"  Yes,  I  would,"  said  Madge,  snappishly.     '« Who 

do  you  suppose  wants  to  wear  bombazine  and  black 

crape  now  that  the  hot  weather's  coming  on?     If 

it  was  the  fall  now  it  would  be  different,  but  I  dare 

say  you'll  go  and  get  killed  the  first  thing,  just  for 

contrariness ;  it  would  be  exactly  like  you  men  to 

do  it ! "  / 


! 


THE   SISTERS   01-    TOKVVUOD. 


3r  my, 
pray? 


founcj 
dith'i 


i^at- 
ppose 
ing  a 
)le  to 


Who 
alack 
?  If 
dare 
It  for 
3n  to 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


A  NEW  FRIEND. 


"  My  dear  Madge,"  said  Angus,  "  it  seems  to  me 
you're  cross  this  morning,  aren't  you  ?  Is  it  for  want 
of  your  breakfast,  or " 

A  tap  at  the  door  interrupted  him.  It  was  Editli, 
dressed  in  black,  still  her  favorite  hue,  but  with  knots 
of  purple  ribbon  relieving  its  somberness,  and  with 
bows  of  purple  in  her  shining  dark  hair.  She  was 
looking  infinitely  better  than  on  the  night  of  Madge's 
arrival.  Edith  must  have  found  some  elixir  of  life 
in  those  few  days,  for  she  looked  a  new  being,  tier 
astonishment  at  seeing  her  cousin  almost  equaled 
that  of  Madge.  / 

"  Why,  Angus,"  she  said,  coming  forward  with 
outstretched  hand,  "  is  it  possible !  Who  would 
have  expected  to  see  you  here  I " 

Angus  laughed. 

"  Madge  says  I  look  as  if  I  had  been  dead  and  dug 
up  ;  but  she  can't  say  the  same  of  you.  You  are  ys 
blooming  as  a  rose,  Edith.'' 

"  Oh,  to  be  sure,"  said  Madge,  "  sitting  up  to  the 
small  hours  and  sleeping  until  noon  is  enough  to 
make  a  howling  wilderness  bloom."  (Madge's  similes 
were  always  rather  wild,  if  you  remember.)  "I  hope 
you  three  settled  the  Avhole  thing  for  good  last 
night." 


'^^^.^ 


298 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


"Settled  what?". 

"•  Your  wediling,  of  course,  if  you  must  have  it  in 
plain  English  !    When  is  it  to  be?  " 
.     "  Madge !  " 

"  That's  no  answer  to  my  question.  If  you  won't 
tull  me,  1  mean' to  ask  Colonel  Stuart,  when'he  comes, 
and  not  we^r  myself  to  skin  and  bone  with  suspense 
as  I  am  doing.     Who's  this  ?     Come  in  ? " 

Another  tap  at  the  door.;  this  time  Madame  Tor-' 
wood  sailed  in,  in  a  vast  white  wrapper,  holding  a 
letter  in  her  hand.     As  a  matter  of  course,  she,  too 
was  surprised  at  sight  of  Angus  at  such  an  hour] 
particularly  as  it  was  his  first  time  out. 

"Dear  me,  Cai)tain  Tor  wood !  What  an  un- 
expected pleasure  !  ■   When  did  you  come  ?  " 

"  Half  an  hour  ago.  I  had  a  presentiment  Madge 
might  be  out  of  humor,  and  stepped  in  to  soothe 
her." 

"  Very  polite  of  you,  I  am  sure.  Edith,  I  have  a 
letter  for  you." 

"  For  me  !  "  exclaimed  Edith  ;  "  from  whom  ?  " 
"  You.  never  would  guess  !     From  Lucy !  " 
She  held  out  a  tiny  note,  superscribed  in  the  deli- 
bate  chirography  of  Lucy  Torwootf,  Madge  whistled 
Angus  looked  grave,  and  Edith's  face  flushed  as  she 
tore  It  open.     Very  short  it  was-only  two  lines,  but 
tears  sprang  to  Editl^'s  eyes  as  she  read  them. 

"MvSistek:— I  am  very  sorry  for  what  1  have 
done.    Forgive  me— I  shall  never  forgive  myself. 

;.' ^ '_ ' ;:, , "iaicY.»" 1. 


"  Has  she  told  you  she  is  going  away,  Edith  ? 


1 


V, 


:!^&iiiaA:'^&i 


r_ 


^3i.^^i!ii---f 


? 


■. 


THE   SISTERS  OK   TORWOOD. 


299 


asked  madmiv  as^ith  stood  silejkt  with  the  note  in 
her  hand.  ^^ 

"No,  madam."  ,       r  ^  ', 

,^'  Where  is  she  going  to  ? "  asked  fierce  Madge. 

"  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emory,  are  ^ing  to  Baltimore  this 
week,  and   have   invited  her  to  accompany  "them. 
Slie  will  go,  she  sajs,  and  stay  until  -I  call  for  hei^' 
So,  Edith,  my  dear,  there  will  be  nothing  to  prevent' 
y4>  and  Paul  from  going  to  Torwood  Towers  im- 
meduitely  after  the  ceremony  ! "  m. 

"After  what  ceremony?"  inquired l»Madg^ with 
an  innocent  faeer*s 

^'My  dear  Madge,  little  girls  -should  be  seen 
an^  not  heard.  Captain  Torwood,  you  will  stay 
and  breakfast  with  us.  Come  along,  it  is  wait- 
ing.'' 

"  Oh,  be  joyful !  "  cried  Madge,  springing  up. 
"  Captain  Torwood,  permit  me  to  offer  you  my  arm 
to  the  b^^eak'fast  parlor.  You  don't  look  fit  for  such 
a  journey  unaided.  We'll  give  you  something  bet- 
ter than -the  gruels  and  (\vy  toast '  Sister  Marie ' 
used  to  dose  you  Avith  in  the  hospital ! " 

As  they  all  toojc  their  T)laces)  round  4lie "table,  and 
Madame  Torwood  was  mttering  away  among  the 
cu'|)s  and  saucers,  Fifine  put  in  her  head  all  stream- 
ing with  pink  ribbons.      •*  ^ 

"Colonel  Stuart  is  below,  nlS,dam,  and  )vants  to 
see  you."  . 

,"  So  early !     Tell  him  to  come  up." 

Colonel  Stuart  came  hastily  up-stairs,  and  m^de 
Jiis  appearance  in  the  breakfast  roomi- 


/'  Good  morning,  all !     I  thought  I  should  find  you 
here,  Torwood.     Have  you  heard  the  news  ? " 


>>4,    i',fi,.-» 


£#w 


Ki 


300  •  THP   SISTER^  OF   TORWOOD.        -^     : 

'   ,    "What  /lews?"  asked- his  mother.     "Will  you 
take  a  cup  of  tea  ? " 

"  Thank  you.  You  iiaven't  heard  it,  then  ?  You 
know  there  caifiQ  a  lot  of  wounded  late  last  ni^^ht  to 
the  hospital?"  ° 

"  Yes,"  said  Angus,  to  whom  he  spoke. 
"Well,  sir,"  said'Golonel  Stuart,  stirring  his  tea 
"  this  morning  I  went  the  rounds,  and  whom  do  you' 
supi)ose  I  saw  in  the  very  bed  you  so  lately  vacated^  " 
"  I  couhhi't  guess." 
"  Captain  Giaccomo  St.  Leon."       ,      ' 
There  was  a  general  exclamation,  and  Madge's 
tea,  in  her  surprise,  went  the  wrong  way,  and  nearly 
choked  her.     The  diversion  caused  by  this  was  some 
time  in  subsiiling,  and  by  the  time  it  was  over,  so 
was  the  first  shock  of  the  announcement. 

"  Nobody  else,"  said  Colonel  Stuart,  « and  with 
his  right  arm  off,  pooifplow.  It  was  he  knew  me 
'  first— a  saber  cut  across  the  face,  received  long  ago 
has  altered  him  so,  1  should  never  have  recognized 
him.  He  bears  his  misfortune  like  a  man  f  must 
say,  and  seemed  only  too  glad  to  have  fallen  into 
my  hands." 

They  were  all  silent  for  a  few  minutes.     Madge  . 
looked  cunningly  at  Edith,   but  Edith's  face  )vas 
thoughtful   and  serious,   nothing  more.     St^  Icon 
was  to  her  as  an  utter  stranger  now. 

"  Does  the  saber  cut  s^l  his  good  looki 
asked,  a  little  disappointed  at  her  sister's 

"More's  the  pity— yes.     St.  Leon.. can  never  set 
up  for  a  lady-killer  again." 

gfc-jj*  I  should  think  it  wouid  wDHxMm^ombly— T 
aa^       it  would  me  if  I  lost  mine  ! " 


^- 


,<^ 


ll 


,1^' 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


301 


"  My  dear  Madge,  what  are  you  talking  about  \ 
You  have  none  19  lose !  "  I 

Madge  dropped  her  knife  and  fork  with  an  omi- 
iSJDUs  clatter,  but;  madam  interfered, 

ji  Madge,  be  quiet.  Paul,  you  ought  to  know  bet- 
,  •!  He  bears  his  afflictions  with  fortitude,  then— 
Who  would  qver "think  he  Avas  such  a  Christian  ? " 

"  He  bears  thej»  like  a  ^philosopher,  not  like  a 
Cbristian.  What  is  to  be  will  be,  is  his  rpotto  still. 
Besides,"  and  Colonel  Stuart's  eyes  looked  roguish. 
"  he  is  married,  and  wha^odds  about  a  married  man's 
looks !  "  '         ' 

Edith  smile(\,  Jbut  her  face  lookefl  serious  still. 

"  Does  he  speak  of  his  wife  ? "  a^ked  Angus. 

"  Yes,  he  wants  t6  see  her  very  much,  and  I  tele- 
graphed to  New  York  before  I  camcf  here.  She 
ought  to  be  with  hina  l)y  the  end  of  the  week.". 

"  Do  you  think  she  will  come  ? " 

"  I  am  sure  -  of  it ;  Florence  will  not  disregard  fi 
letter  from  me^  she  stands  in  wholesome  awe  of  me 
of  late.  Edith,  don't  look  so  solemn— what  are  you 
thinking  about  ? " 

"  Captain  St.  Leon,  of  course,"  said  Madge's  pver 
pert  tongue. 

"  Yes,"  said  Edith,  lifting  her  dark  eyes  quietly  ; 
"of  course  the  loss  of  his  arm  ends  his  soldiering. 
What  are  he  and  Florence  to  do  ^yhen  he  recovers  ? " 

"  He  is  going  to  his  friends  in  Connecticut,  if.  he 
can  manage  to  get  there ;  be.is  a  prisoner  of  war,  you  • 
know,  no\y.-  Then  there  is  Florence's  dowry— they'll 
manage,  I  dare  say." 


"WhatTarehrs  friends  In  Connecticut?''       "~ 
«  Farmers,  I  believe,"  answered  Edith  ;  "  they 


a^Bii 


ir^f 


■f 


02 


THE   SISTERS   OF  TORWOOD. 


mil  hardly  suit  Florence  after  her  gay  life  in  New 
rork.     I  am  very  sorry  for  Captain  St.  Leon." 

"  I  mean  to  go  to  see  him,"  said  Madge,  «  and  be 

a  mmistermg  angel,  and  all   that  sort  of  thing  to 

him,  until  Florence  comes.    May  I,  Colonel  Stuart  ^ " 

1 11  speAk  to  St.  Leon  about  it,  my  dear     Will 

you  go,  Edith  ? » 

"  If  he  would  like  to  see  me— certainly  " 
"  Won't  it  be  a  meeting^  ? ''  said  Madge,  bounding 
up  and  coming  down  in  hfer  chair  in  little  ecstatic 
si>Vings  "and  when  Mrs.  St; Leon  comes,  Barnum's 
happy  family  will  be  nothing  to  it.  Lucy  ought  to 
be  here  to  clap  the  climax."  " 

"Madge,  I  am  ashamed  of  you ! "  said  Angus 

table     'forget  and  forgive ;  there  is  nothing  like  it  " 

Its  lately  you  found  it  out  then.     When  you 

tried  to  blow  St.  Leon's  brains  out  in  Torwoodto  vn 

you  did  not  think  so."  ' 

*'  As  you  are  strong,  be  merciful,  Madge.     I  have 

4earned  more  than  that  lately-among  the  rest,  that 

you  are  growing  exactly  lilcq  Edith." 

"Only  ever  so  much  better-looking,  you  might 
have  manners  to  add  ;  but  manners  and  vou  might 
be  marrred,  for  you  are  no  rehi^ions."       *    ' 

"Relationsget  married  sometimes  ;  there  are  such 
things  as  dispensations.  Are  you  off  again,  Colonel  ? " 
1  believe  so;  you  need  not  hurry,  though  I 
have  something  to  attend  to,  and  must.  Good-by 
Madge  he  said^  speaking  low,  - 1  don't  believe  we 
wiH  let  you  go  to  school,  after  all.    I  have  another 

tT7  ™y^^™^i"™  you  all  aboutit  next  ^ 
time  1  come." 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


303 


CIIAPTEE  XXIX. 


FLORENCE    ANT  I)    HER    ItlSBAND. 

^      A  PAIR  of  handsome  liorses,  glittering  in  silver- 
^  plated  harness,  and  drawing  an  elegant  barouche, 
"eameprancing  through  one  of  the  principal  streets 
"of  AVashington.     It  was  a  sunny  afternoon,  one  week 
after  that  imperative  telegram  had  gbne  from  that 
imperative  gentleman,  Colonel  Stuart,  to  a  certain 
beautiful  lady   in   New   York,   and   the    prancing 
horses  and  elegant  barouche  drew  up  with  a  floims^ 
in  front  of  the  stylish  hotel  where  Colonel  Stuart's 
mother  at  present  resided.     A  lady,  young  and  fair 
as  a  vision,  lying  back  languidly  among*  the  velvM^ 
cushions,  her  dress  of  silver-gray  silk  falling  arou'iid 
her,  her  long  velvet  mantle  hanging  in  cos'tly  folds 
from  her  sloping  shoulders,  her  bonnet  the  perfec- 
tion of  millinery  art,  her  filmy  lace  veil  and  little 
l)ink  parasol  protecting  he<r  primrose  face  from  the 
too  ardent  glance  of  the  sun,  got  up  as  it  stepped, 
and  held  out  her  daintily  gloved  hand  to  be'helped 
to  alight.     The  crowd  of  loungers  on  the  hotel  steps, 
and  the  throng  of  passers-by,  staj-ed  hard,  in  curi- 
osity and  admiration  at  the  stylish  figure  and  beauti- 
fttl  face,  and  the  young  lady  bore  the  scrutiny  with 

=nth©  easy  ^i-^of  ono  quit^  ttseti  to^it^ -    

"You  will  wait  for  me,"  she  said  to  the  driver, 
"  I  will  be  back  directly." 


i-,  <..,;*i:^.,^^«.v'.- 


304  THE   SISTERS  OF   TORWOOD. 

Gathering  up  the  sweeping  amplitude  of  her  silken 
skirts  in  her  gloved  fingers,  she  was  about  to  trip  up 
the  steps  when  she  found  herself  suddenly  accosted 
Another    young    lady,    much    less    magnificently 
arrayed,  walking  llong,  with  her  hands  stuck  in  her 
jacket  pockets,  a  coquettish  little  hat  stuck  rakishlv 
on  top  of  her  head,   her  black  eyes    beaming  on 
society  as  it  moved  past,  had  made  a  dart  forward 
with  a  cry  of  «  It  is !  »  and  standing  oefore  the 
beauty  in  silver-gray,  fluted  out  her  skirts  in  an  ela- 
borate bow,  and  began,  with  the  greatest  m^rm^- 

♦'How  do  you  do,  Mrs.  St.  Leon?  IIowAo  voudo? 
Delighted  of  all  things  to  see  you  again,  I  am 
sure."  o      » 

The  lady  turned  a  pair  of  violet  eyes  on  the  gipsy 
face  of  the  speaker,  and  holding  out  her  hand  u-ith 
languid  grace,  made  a  feeble  attempt  at  a  kiss 
through  her  veil. 

"  Ah,  Madge,  is  it  you  ?  How  do  you  do,  and  how 
are  all  the  rest  ? " 

Madge,  totally  ignoring  the  proffered  kiss,  gin- 
gerly touched  the  kidded  fingers  held  out,  and 
dropped  them  again  as  if  they  had  been  red- 
hot. 

"  Everybody's  in  splendid  condition,  and  will  be 
enchanted  to  set  you  of  ail  people,  Edith  particu- 
larly I    How  glad  you  must  be  to  meet  her  again  ! " 

The  loungers,  looking  and  listening  with  vivid  in- 
terest, saw  a  quick,  hot  flush  overspread  the  fair 
face  of  Mrs^St^  Leon.    Even  obtuse  JElorence  felt  _ 
Mad^s  cutting  words,  and  ^ad  the  grace  to  feel 
ashamed.      In   a    letter,  foUowing   the   telegram, 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


305 


the 


m 


v-^« 


.-I 


Colonel  Stuart  had  entered  into  particulars,  and 
Florence  knew  as  much  as  was  neccessary  of  Edith's 
story. 

"  Is  she  here  'i "  she  asked,  glancing  up  at  the  front 

windows  of  the  hotel. 

« 

"  Up-stairs  with  Madame  Torwood  and  Colonel 
Stuart,  and  Cousin  Angus.  Oh,"  here  Madge,  per- 
forming a  little  ecstatic  caper  in  her  delight,  "  won^t 
it  be  a  happy  meeting !  " 

"  Here,  let  us  go  up,"  said  Florence,  a  little  crossly ; 
*'  everybody  is  staring !     How  is  Giaccomo  ? " 

"  Just  as  bad  as  ever  he  can  be,  and  shouting  for 
you  all  the  time  like  sixty,"  inventing  her  facts  as 
she  went  along;  "he  has  been  up  in  the  highest  of 
fevers,  they  say,  and  raving  fit  to  raise  the  roof.  I 
haven't  seen  him  myself — my  nerves  couldn't  stand 
it ;  but  they  say  he  is  perfectly  awful !  " 

"  Has  Edith  been  to  see  him  ? "  Florence  ventured, 
with  hesitation. 

"  Where  was  the  use ;  he  wouldn't  know  her.  Be- 
sides, Edith  has  something  else  to  do  now  besides 
trotting  around  to  hospitals  looking  after  raving 
mad  soldiers.  Don't  you  know  she's  going  to  be 
married  ? " 

"  No !  is  she  ?    To  Colonel  Stuart  ? " 

"  Exactly  ;  and  she  is  going  to  reign  like  a  queen 
at  Torwood  Towers  !  You  know  Colonel  Stuart  is 
richer  than  any  Christian  man  has  a  right  to  be,  and 
Edith  is  to  have  diamonds  and  things,  bushels  of 
them,  if  she  chooses,  and  two  or  three  French  maids 
=fco  comb  her  hair  and  fix  her  every  day,  and  millioTig= 
of  lovely  silk  dresses,  be-yeutiful  bonnets,  and  oh, 
my  1 "  Madge  cried,  the  English  language  failing  in 

30 


3o6 


THE   SIST 


5   OF   TORWOOD. 

her  raptures;  '^  I  couldn't  begin  to  tell  you  all  th« 
things  she's  going  to  have !  "  "  ^  ^^^ 

Madge  hud  threatened  more  times  than  once  to 
lacerate  Florence's  pretty  face  with  he-  fingerlit 
If  they  ever  met.     They  /..,/  n.et  at  last,!md  she 

Z^  TuhT  ^-^^"f -f-^>^ous  I.;;:;;.-:; 

envy.  With  a  bitter  sigh,  she  listened  to  her 
^-^unger  sister's  glowing  account,  and  wished  with 
all  her  heart  she  had  been  less  in  a  hurry  to  run  off 
with  Giaccomo  St.  Leon.  ^  ^ 

"Here  weare,'l  exclaimed  Madge,  flino in n- onen  . 
door,  and  sa,lin^.-mo  a  large  roomf  iith  I^r^;;.!:  ; 
M  /  ^T  '""^^  ^^"tlemen,  Mrs.  St.  Leon  -"     ^^ 
Madame  Torwood    Angus  Torwood,  Edith  Tor 
wood,  and  Colonel  Stuart,  all  were  there   and   .1 
arose.    There  was  an  awlcward  little  pa'^w^/ 

o  e  s!,rr"'  'r "'  ^^^^^^^^^^^  -  '  ^he^  cot 
sTnllingre """        ""''  '"''''  ^'^^^"'^^  ^-'  -^ 

J1\T\  T/  ^^^"^  ^^  '^^  >^^"'  ^^^'«- 'St.  Leon- we 
are  ./  g^ad    o  see  you  !     Have  you  just  come"  " 
les,     J^lorence  said   falterino-lv    o„,i  Ar    i 
Torwoo,.  swept  „p  to  shake  ,.!'' ' .  UoJ^Z 
<lo  Mr.  St  Leon  J "  she  s»W,  but  it  wasXtwiv 

said,  indeed.    "  Edith,  my  dear "        ^  ""'"v 

She  stopped     E.hth,  a  little  paler,  a  little  -.raver 

"  I  am  glad  to  see  you  Florpnn«  "  „r .     n   i 
and  Floi^nee,  to  the^„;pr;:roT;.  ;ri    ri 


"Oh  Edith,  oh  Edith!  h«,v  «„  you  ever  forgive 


1 

s 
c 

ll 
h 


f*. 


T«E   SISTERS   OF  TORWQOD.  307 

vtie':*"!':^'' '"'' """ "'™ ""'  ™'-  ™^  -'  '■" 

"  Dear  Florence,  it  is  all  over  ami  gone.  I  have  for 
given  yon  long  an,l  long  ago,"  RlTtl,  »„i,l,  ,  , ,  '  , 
^.n^e.1  an  the  rest  at  the  unlcK,k«|.,br  outburst! 

There  ,s  some  goo.l  i„  her,  after  all,"  thou.^it 
Colonel  Stuart,  turning  to  the  win.l'ovv,  ami  Madle 

Lutit  was  only  momentary;  Florence-s  emotions 
were  ,n  a  very  flimsy  condition  at  the  best,  an  n  ™ 
lasted  long.  A  perfnme<l  an.l  lace-bonlered  S 
kereh.ef  wiped  away  the  last  tears,  an.l  she  wa  sH 
.  tmg  down  on  the  sofa  between  Kdith  and  An„  s 
qmte  herself  again.  '"',,"'; 

"There    is  no    danger  of    Giaecon.o    dyin..    is 
there;  "she  was  asking.     "Mad.re  <,nv»  I,;      •' 
dreadful  fever,  and  knows  no  one  "         '  "  '"  " 

]\othmg  of  the  sort,  Florence!    Madge  I  am 
re^ly  ^surprised  at  you,    How  can  you 'fa^;  l^oh 

"  "^f;  I  heard  somebody  saying yesterdav  he  was 
f  «  sajd  Ma,lge,  "and  if  he  is  not  delirious,  e 

"Ifs  so  horrid,"  said  Florence,  in   the  tone  of  an 

an  IS  life  »,th  only  one  arm.  I  don't  see  whv  he 
couhln't  have  beeu  moreearoful !  I  tohi  hin  befo  e 
he  went  away  he  would  eome  back  a  fright,  aMnmv 
ie  sees  whether  I  was  right  or  not."  ' -°'^-!'5«[ — 


\ 


"He  ought    to    he    ashame<l    of  himself"  said 
Madge,  whUe  Edith  and  Ma.Ian.e  Torwood  looM 


3o8 


THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


•    X 


very  grave,  Colonel  Stuart  and  Angus  exchanged 
smiles,  "  disgracing  hiS  wife  and  sisters-in-law, 
Avith  only  one  arm,  not  to  speak  of  an  ugly  gash 
across  his  face  that  makes  him  look  worse  than  a 
live  gorilla.  •  If  I  were  Florence,  I  would  sue  for  a 
divdrce ! "   * 

"  Madge,  "hold  your  tongue,"-  said  Madame  Tor- 
wood.  <'  Mrs.  St.  Leon,  I  beg  you  will  pay  no  Atten- 
tion to  your  sister— she  has  not  seen  your  huSband 
at  all." 

"J  ought  to  go,  I  suppose,"  said  Florence,  with  a 
^igh  of  resignation  ;  "  Edith  I  wish  you  would  come 
with  me — I  don't  want  to  go  alone." 

Edith  rose  at  once  and  left  the  room  to  get  ready. 
She  had  visited  Ca*ptain  St.  Leon  already— it  had 
been  a  very  quiet  meeting,  so  composed  on  her  part 
that  you  might  have  thought  she  had  never  seen  him 
before.  She  was  back  in-s^a  few  minutes,  and 
Florence  was  bidding  them  good-by,  and  promising 
to  return  to  spend  the  evening,  led  the  way  to  the 
carriage, 

"Madge  told  me  that  you  were  going  to  be  mar-  ' 
ried,"  she  said,  as  they  drove  along ;  « is  it  true  ?  » 

Edith  smiled  and,  ^?lushed  a  little.     "  Quite  true  " 

"Dear  me!  hoW  odd!  You  don't  hate  Colotiel 
Stuart  as  much  novV  as  you  used  to  do  ? " 

"  No,"  said  Edith,  a  smile  deepening  kt  the  peiV 
fectly  serious  question.  « I  was  a  very  bad  girl  in 
those  days,  I  am  afraid." 

"  I  am  sur^  I  never  thought  yoia  would  have 
come  tojnarry  him,  of  all  menj^    WJiat  (Ud  you  say 


when  you  rouritTout  Giaccomo  and  t  had  run  away 

together?"  '  .     ■  ^..     f' 

i  '  '■ 


f< 

t< 


/ 


and 


thp:  sisters  of  torvvood.  309 

"I  don't  remember,  and  as  it  is  all  over  noAv  It 
WjU   be    as    Nvell,  perhaps,   not   to   speak  of  it 'at  ^ 

"  I  know  I  acted  badlj,"  said  Florence,  whose 
ptoptions  had  not  grown  more  delicate  with  the 
pa^ige  of  time;  "but  it  was  a  great  deal  more 
Lucys  doings  than  mine.  Only  for  her  I  don't 
beheVe  I  should  ever  have  dorife  it.  She  was  awfullv 
deceitful,  wasn't  she  ?  "  *^ 

Edithx  was  silent.     Florence  ran  on : 
"  I  never  wj^s  so  frightened  in  all  my  life  as  when  I 
heard  you  were  murdered,  except  the  night  Colonel 
Stuart  came  to  me  in  New  York,  and  threatened 
such  terrible  things  if  I  would  not  confess  all  I  knew 
Lucy   wanted  him   so   badly   herself,  at  least  she 
wanted  his  money,  for  she  disliked  him  dreadfully 
I  should  think  she  would  feei  horrid  now  at  bein^ 

Emo^'' ''  '^^  ''   '"  Baltimore,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

"I  suppose  you  will  live  atTorwood  after  you  are 

married— where  will  she  stay  then  ? " 
"  She  is  going  to  Paris  with  Madame  Torwood  " 
"Is  she  really?     How  nice  that  will  be.    IsMadffe 

gomg  to  stop  with  you  ? " 

"No,  Madge  is  going  to  school  for  a  year  or  two, 
at  thB  end  of  which  time  she  is  to  be  married  !  "  . 

What  ?     exclaimed  Florence,  opening  her  eyes, 
"Madge  married!     To  whom?" 
^^"To^ngifs,"   said   Edith,    smiling:    « Oh  T^ 
forgot  It  is  all  news  to  you  !    Madge  ought  to  h^ve 
told  you  that  with  the  other  items  ?" 


310 


THE    SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


-r 


"  Well,  I  declare !    How  long  have  they  been  en- 
gaged ? "    .. 

"  Onl3^  two  or  three  days,  I  believe." 
"  But,  Edith,  Angus  used  to  Ije  in  love  with  you  ? " 
"Well,  he  has  gotovei-  it,yofi  soe,and  thinks  now 
there  is  nobody  in  the  world  like  Madge." 
"  And  she  likes  him  ?  " 

"  I  presume  so,  since  she  has  promised  so  readily 
to  be  his  wife." 

"  Well,  I  am  surprised  !    What  did  Giaccomo  sav 
when  he  saw  you  ?  " 

"  He  said,  *  How  do  you  do  ? '  .1  think,  and  several 
other  remarks  of  a  like  nature." 

"  Does  he  look  as, frightful  as  Madge  says  ? " 
"  His  face  is  scarred,  and  he  has  lost  hi§  arm,  poor 
fellow,  but  he  is  by  no  means  frightful." 

"  I  say  it's  too  bad,"  Florence  cried  out  resentfully 
"  that  he  should   be  made  such  an  object  of,  while 
other  men  come  off  unhurt.     I  wonder  how  lo'no-  be- 
fore he  is  well  ? "        ,  '^ 
"  It  will  be  some  time,  I  think." 
"  I'll  never  go  to  Connecticut-I  never  will ! ''    Flor- 
ence  exclaimed,  the  thought  striking  her ;  "  if  there 
is  an  exchpgeof  prisoners  and  he  goes  South  again 
I'll  go  witl^  him ;  but,  I'll  nevergo  down  East  amon^r 
his  friends,  and  so  I  mean  to  tell  him !     Where  are 

Madge  and  Angus  going  to  reside  ?  " :^ 

"Angus  owns  a^n  estate  in  Cuba;  they  will  go 
there." 

"  It  was  kind  of  Colonel  Stuart  to  give  us  all  our 
fortunes,  and  not  take  advantage  of  that  shabby-^ 
Anil,"  said  Florence,  jumping  at  another  topic;  "he 
has  behaved  really  well,  J  must  say ;  biit  I  never 


? 


c 
ii 


■^ 


te"- 


y 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


,  poor 


311 

could  have  imagined  you  would  be  his  wife.    Where's 
that  horrid  old  witch,  lluldah,  now  ?  » 
*'  Where  she  always  is-at  Torwood." 
I  should  think  she  would  clear  out  of  that  before 
you  go  back.     Oh,  this  is  the  place  » » 
fII'^^  ^,^^  «^«PPed  at  the  hospital, -and,  alighting 
Edith  led  the  way  in.     In  the  same  place  where 
Angus  Torwood  had  turned  so  impatiently,  GLcomo 
S  .  Leoanvas  lying,  propped  up  with  piii;ws  now^ 

what  he  had  once  been,  his  emaciated  face  disfic^ired 
by  a  long  purplish  scar,  his  large  dark  eyes,  ont  so 
bjilliant,  sunken  and  dim. 

He  was  reading  wh^n  they  entered,  but  the  rus- 
thngof  Florence's  silkskirt  meeting  his  kr  he  turned 
round,  and  was  face  to  face  with  his  wife  That 
lady  s  first  greeting  was  a  suppressed  shriek,  at  sight 
of  his  altered  looks.  ^  • 

-      "  Oh,  my  goodness  !  what  a  fright  you  have*^  hp 
come!    I  declare  you  do  look  perfectly  awfuT'' 

at  fZ    ;  f^'"""  •'     ^'^  '^^^  ^^^"^"  ^^  ^^"'•^^^J  to  Edith 
at  the  wifely  greeting,  she  had  all  the  revenge  she 

need  ever  have  desired.     That  hour  was  the  hfur  of 
retribution  for  Giaccomo  ^t.  Leon  ' 

out  his'tf't  'r  ""Tt  r'^  ^'^^ '"  ^^  «^^^'  ^ol^^^ng 
out  his  left  hand;   «  better  to  lose  one's  arm  and 

g^  looks  than  oneMife.     How  have^JC;::! 

He  need  hardly  have  asked..    Florence  was  in  ex 

cellent  condition,  and  a^striking  contrast  r^^^^^^ 

mg  kd^  befo..  h^r,    A^^  7_ 

"the  bed  Edith  turned  to  go.  ^ 

"I  wilUeaveyouforTiarf'anhourr  the  latter  said. 


i-S.,;.' 


312 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TQRWOOD. 


the  hotel 


"  I  must  return  lo  me  notei  liien.    i  nave  an  engage.- 
ment." 

Edith  found  the  half -hour  pass  very  swiftly  and 
pleasantly  among  the  old  ^Iriends,  nurses,  and  pa- 
tients—much more  pleasantly ..  than  it /had  passed 
with  the  husband  and  wife,  judging  by  the  faces  of 
both  when  she  returned.  Florence  rose- at  her  com- 
«,  ing  with  a  look  of  unmistakable  relief.  /v.,    *• 

"  I'll  be  back  to-morrow,  Giaccomo,"  she  ^aid, 
slmking  out  her  robes.  "  It's  a  horrible  place,  b*^  I 
suppose  there's  no  help  for  it."  /" ^'^ 

"  And  I  may  as  well  say  good-by,  Mr.  St.  Le<5n," 
said  Edith,  "  as  we  leave  for  Tbrwoodtown  to-mor- 
row, and  I  shall  not  see  you  again." 

"I  have  been  teliing  him  about  your  marriao-e," 
said  Florence  ;  "  is  it  sit  Topwoodtown  it  comes  off  ?  " 

"Yes,"  said  Edith,  coloring,  a*4  feeling  very 
strange  indeed,  under  the  circumstance^., 

*'  You  have  my  best  wishes,""  was  all  St.  Leon  said, 
in  a  very  subdued  voice.  "  Colonel  Stuart  and  your- 
self are  worthy  of  each  other.     Farewell." 

And  so  they  parted— those  two  so  much  to  each,, 
other  once — nothing  at  all  now.     There  were  tears 
in  Edith's  eyes  when  they  gained  the  street,  but  Mrs. 
St.  Leon's  were  dry.  • 

"  I  do  say  it  is  too  bad,"  was  her  indignant  cry, 
"to  have  one's  husband  made  such  a  scarecrow  of. 
I  shall  be  ashamed  to  be  seen  with  him— I  know  I 
shall !  I  only  wish  I  had  never  been  such  a  fool  as 
to  elope  !  What  shall  you  be  married  in,  Edith- 
white?"    • 


V 


A 


THE  SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD. 


t- 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


V 


THE    WEDDING. 

I 

ToRWooDTowN  AVRs  jn  a  state  of  great  excitement. 
The  whole  population  had  their  countenances  glued 
to  their  window-panes  watching  two  carriages 
driving  swiftly  by  in  the  direction  of  the  Rev,  Mr. 
Peterson's  humble  little  -jhurch.  That  edifice  was 
thronged,  too,  ajbeit  it  was  Thursday,  not  Sunday 
morning,  and  Father  Peterson,  in  stole  and  surplice, 
stood  within  the  sanctuary,  waiting  like  the  rest. 
He  had  not  long  to  «ail.  The  carriages,  stopping 
at  the  doorf  two  military  gentlemen.  Colonel  Stuart 
and  Captain  Torwood,  alighted  from  one,  and 
Madam(^  Torwood,  Miss  Edith  Torwood,  and  Miss 
Madge  were  helped  out  of  the  other,  and  the  whole 
party  sailed  into  the  church.  ^ 

^Madame  Torwood  was  as  magnificent  as  moire 
antique,  velvet  crape,  and  plumed  bonnet  could 
make  her,  and  swept  up  the  aisle,  in  superb  disdain 
of  the  crowd  of  starers  around  her.  Edith  was  in 
white,  filmy  and  floating,  orange  blossoms  wreath- 
ing her  black  Kair,  and  a  postly  bridal  veil  envelop- 
ing her  from  head  to  foot  like  a  cloud  of  mist. 
Madge  was  in  white,  too,  and  might  have  been  mis- 
-taken  for  another  bride,  only  the  orange  wreath 


and  wedding  veil  were  absent,  and  she  sailed  along 
the  aisle,  nodding  and  smiling  to  those  she  knew, 


■-!&*' 


L^ 


314' 


THE   SISTERS   OF    TORVVOOD: 


^nd^returning  every  stare  with  compound  interest. 
"  Before  the  alttir  no^  tliey  stand, 


The  brtdegroom  and  the  bride, 
And  Tvhp  shall  paint  what  lovers  feel 
In  this  their  hour  of  pride  ?^J^      / 


"^-^ 


'        Ihe   program    was   all   arranged      The    Avhni 

atdMith      IT'^-''™^  '°  """""  school  C 
and  Edith  wished  to  remain  near  her 

ine  «ev.  Jttr.  McPherson  was   waitine  too     Tl,„„ 
had  not  much  time  to  linger  over  it  ft  ,TV     .f"'^  ' 

aveimg  aresses,  the  servants  gathered  in  *u^ 


11 


/ 


■'^*-'  :,■ 


,     THE   SISTERS  OF  TORWOOD.  315 

'«■:''  '"^  "^^  in'otke  sUbberv,  .nd  dis. 
"It's  Huldali,  |K)or|,onl !"  exclaimed  Edith  turn 

asihe"  "'""'' '"''^ ''.'"•«» -yg-rt-'-y  now 

So  good-'by  was  said  once  more 
With  a  very  solemn  face,  Madge  leanwl  o„(  „f  .^ 
c^^ag,  .,e.  s.e  sat  .ie.   A^^^;™^ 

me  n,.ain  i.  this  .orll,  .„.,  v;  J  i  ke^; tL  t^fbr: 
gulf  between  us  in  the  next."     ^ 

"  Why,  do  you  mean  to  c^o ? »  jvr„  MnPi, 

pointed  downward.  McPherson 

"^ISTo ;  and  for  that  verv  roasnn  T't«  „*    •  1 
not  destined  to  enjoy  ea-„X:.J  '::^  Tt  ^ 

n:dnot":st;:^:dV-"  -  -^  '^-iy,  ^.:„" 
£3J^^TSf;sr;ir:iif-- 

;  Neither  do  I,"  said  Angus,  as  they  drove  awav 
A  year  m  a  convent  will  t»hl  f h^  -^  ' 


vQii  Tnair^  ^r™.-^       "     '"  ^"^'^^  ^e  n^onsense  out  ol^ 


V 


-1' 


<:i!^' 


-■«£ 


/ 


3i6 


THE   SISTERS   OF   TORWOOD. 


now  ;  behave  yourself  for  once,  and  take  a  last  view 
of  your  old  home." 

"Good-by  to    Torwood    Towers,"  Madge  said 
standing  up  to  wave  her  handkerchief. 

Another  moment  and  they  were  out  of  sight,  and 
off  on  their  journey. 


THE  END. 


view- 
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Norine's  Revenge, 


'"'  ®"mi*!i';"J''*"'  ^°-'  Publishers, 

•19*  lai  Westasd  street,  Mew  York! 


^ 


lie  ■  . 


«-.        ^^^^^  P.  SMITH'S  NOVriA 

Price  li.so  per  Vol. 

ALBERT  ROSS'  NOVELS. 


Thy  Neighbor'4  Wife, 
"er  HusBand's  Friend. 
IheGarseonBigamy. 
ff'fP"jate  Character, 
young  Fawcett'i  Mabel 


Young  Miss  Giddy.      Whv  I'm  <:;     i 
Speaking  of  Ellen  i     '^     m  Single. 

Moulding  a  Ma'din      tT"  »'  Seventy. 
In  Stella^  Shadow        I  m"  ?'>^"  ^ot. 
Their  Marrfa^:fc.  Vew)' ''••°""- 
Price  $i.oo  per  Vol. 


An  Original  Sinner. 
OufofVedlock. 
Love  Gone  A  stray. 
H's  foster SIsterf 


JOHN  ESTEN  COOKE'S  WORVa 

.kn  l»,M.,„,,  .„H..  „,  ,.^„  ,Z.^..^    WORKS. 


d»'»'?e'«nd  Rapier. 
C6I.  Ross  of  Piedmont. 


Fairfaxi  Hilr  i     u'l 

Miss  Bonnybel.     Out  o? the  Foam         ?,"'"«  Hallam. 
C«Ptam  Ralph.      Stonewell  if^L  Jt'ohiin. 

Her  Majesty'^the  Queen"  "^  ''^'"'"-      ^"I^"  E.  Lee. 
Price  $1.50  per  Vol. 


v*-;iv<  per  vol. 

„  ■  Mi.  off  ^.'.1.^:  O ARDNEH'S  NOVELS. 


Lompensation.  Do 

AJwutedSkcin.     l^\ 


Rich  Med  way. 
A  Woman's  Wiles. 
Terrace  Roses. 
Seraph— or  Mortal  ? 
Won  Under  Protest. 
Price  I1.50  per  Vol. 


(New;. 


-  ■•wyi.^oper  vol. 


t  na  Maroon. 

The  Tiger  Hunter. 

0«~Uj^^h.S.«iao... 


It"  R'fle  Ranger,. 
The  Wood  Rangers. 
1  he  Rangers  and  Regulators 

Jh^JuXr-'^ 
Price  It.so  per  Vol. 


Th'e'Wt'n?-— . 

The  White  Chii? 
Wild  Life.  '■ 

The  White  Gauntlet. 


'"*  '*'  West  SBd  street,  New  York! 


'ELS. 

•only  well  written,  dcTM 
popular  and  more  popuS; 


Maids. 
Bud. 


The  Widower. 
Lucjr. 


LS. 


Ibert  Rom  and  those  et 
»  vice  he  does  it  with  an 
aiic  instincts  are  .trong" 

An  Orieinal  Sinner. 
UutofVedloclc. 
Love  Gone  A  stray. 
His  Foster  Sister; 


Irit 


>RKS. 


lassedamonffthcBBST 
'een  the  States  was  ?he 
oseofthewarthefor- 

UnT"  *"?  ?'"  •'A 
"itlramaticinteresi.'* 

Beatrice  Hallam. 
■Mohun. 
n.     Robert  E.  Lee. 


ELS. 


every  year,  and  they 
riten  are  foixotten.'* 


(New;. 


>RK8. 

•scinating  character, 
posses,  a  permanent 
>onovelofiheday." 

^''d  Huntress. 

'.b'te  Chief. 

.ife. 

i^hite  Gauntlet. 


vUns 
by 

)ll8her8y 

•ow  York. 


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